title: Liquid biopsies come of age: towards implementation of circulating tumour DNA.
abstract: Improvements in genomic and molecular methods are expanding the range of potential applications for circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), both in a research setting and as a 'liquid biopsy' for cancer management. Proof-of-principle studies have demonstrated the translational potential of ctDNA for prognostication, molecular profiling and monitoring. The field is now in an exciting transitional period in which ctDNA analysis is beginning to be applied clinically, although there is still much to learn about the biology of cell-free DNA. This is an opportune time to appraise potential approaches to ctDNA analysis, and to consider their applications in personalized oncology and in cancer research.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.|Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan C M
authors.initials: JCM
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.|Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Massie
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trials Unit, Clinic Institute of Haematological and Oncological Diseases, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, IDIBAPs, Carrer de Villarroel, 170 Barcelona 08036, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Corbacho
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.|Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mouliere
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.|Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Brenton
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.|Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.|Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge Hutchison-MRC Research Centre, Box 197, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caldas
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.|Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge Hutchison-MRC Research Centre, Box 197, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pacey
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.|Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge Hutchison-MRC Research Centre, Box 197, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.|Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.
authors.forename: Nitzan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D060965:Clonal Evolution; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D057285:Precision Medicine
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D066246:ErbB Receptors