title: Cell-free DNA for the detection of pancreatic, liver and upper gastrointestinal cancers: has progress been made?
abstract: Detecting alterations in blood cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is hoped to be a novel, noninvasive method for diagnosing, prognosing and monitoring cancer patients. Several studies have assessed the usefulness of measuring tumor-specific genetic and epigenetic changes of cfDNA, such as loss of heterozygosity, frequency of mutations, alterations of microsatellites and the methylation of genes in patient blood samples. However, few well-designed trials have been carried out to translate these findings effectively. In this review, we have assessed the clinical utility of cfDNA in pancreatic, liver and upper gastrointestinal malignancies.
authors.affiliation: HPB Surgical Unit, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK.
authors.forename: Tamara M H
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Gall
authors.forename: Adam E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Frampton
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krell
authors.forename: Nagy A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Habib
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stebbing
authors.forename: Long R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Jiao
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm