title: Circulating free DNA in the management of breast cancer.
abstract: Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is now under investigation as a "liquid biopsy" in the real time management of cancer. In The New England Journal of Medicine Dawson et al. reported a proof of concept investigation of tumour specific alterations in cfDNA and demonstrate that this fraction termed "circulating tumour DNA" (ctDNA) shows greater correlation with changes in tumour burden than two other circulating biomarkers (CA 15-3 and circulating tumor cell counts) in individuals with metastatic breast cancer receiving therapy.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK ; 2 Division of Cancer, ICTEM, Imperial College, Hammersmith Campus, London W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: Jacqueline A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK ; 2 Division of Cancer, ICTEM, Imperial College, Hammersmith Campus, London W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stebbing
keywords: Breast cancer; biomarkers; circulating tumour DNA; circulating tumour cells (CTCs)