Oncologists are utilizing liquid biopsy tests in greater numbers, but limitations remain and researchers must study the tests further to determine effectiveness, Medpage Today reports.
What you should know:
1. Liquid biopsy test development, usually in the form of blood-based tests, has drastically increased in recent years as oncologists have ordered more tests.
2. Despite the increased rate of testing, Sanjay Bagaria, MD, a surgical oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., has reservations about possible limitations.
"The reality is that these tests have limitations and require further validation before widespread use," he said. "I encourage oncologists thinking of using liquid biopsies to read the studies that are reporting on it and understand what the limits of those studies are, and whether it applies to their patients."
3. Yet, despite fears over effectiveness, the tests hold plenty of promise. Concerning colorectal cancer, clinicians can use tests that detect circulating tumor DNA to diagnose CRC sans-colonoscopy. However, ctDNA tests vary in effectiveness, depending on whether the cancer is in an early or a late stage.
Read the entire breakdown here.
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