In a webinar hosted by Labroots, Dr. Anagnostou discussed cutting-edge advancements in diagnostics that enable precision oncology, focusing on the integration of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and matched white blood cell (WBC) analyses. This approach represents a significant advancement in the evaluation of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), providing improved sensitivity and specificity for assessing tumor dynamics and therapeutic responses.
The combined analysis of cfDNA and WBCs addresses a key challenge in liquid biopsy applications: distinguishing tumor-derived mutations from clonal hematopoiesis and other non-tumor genetic alterations. This method enhances the reliability of ctDNA assays by cross-referencing genomic alterations in plasma and matched WBCs, thereby reducing false-positive results. Using this method, clinicians can track molecular responses more accurately and identify new resistance mutations. With the ongoing advancements in liquid biopsy, this detailed analytical framework shows significant potential in providing non-invasive and real-time insights into tumor biology and its evolution under the selective pressure of treatment.
Listen to the full presentation and gain deeper insights into this innovative approach, by visiting this [link]