CIRCULATING TUMOUR CELLS: A PORTUGUESE CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS PRECISION MEDICINE
Abstract
In the context of cancer, liquid biopsy refers to the capture and subsequent analysis of tumour material, such as circulating tumour cells (CTCs), circulating tumour nucleic acids and tumour-derived extracellular vesicles, present in the blood of patients with cancer, or even in other body fluids. CTCs are shed from primary tumours or metastatic sites and have a short half-life in circulation, therefore providing information about the biology of cancer in real time and holding great potential as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis, management, and prognosis. As a result, several technologies have been developed over the years in order to efficiently capture these cells with the ultimate goal of revolutionizing cancer assessment. A great focus is deserved on microfluidic-based approaches for CTC isolation, as they provide unprecedented sensitivity and purity, while keeping low cost. In this article, we discuss the huge impact that CTCs could have in oncology and ultimately in precision medicine regarding its greatest advantages against other circulating biomarkers, but we also consider its main limitations and current challenges to be implemented into the clinic.
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