Liquid Biopsy Testing
Liquid Biopsy: Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP)
A liquid biopsy is a blood test that detects cancerous tumors. As a tumor grows, pieces can break off and circulate in your bloodstream.
A liquid biopsy can identify those pieces. Liquid biopsies can detect:
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Circulating tumor cells (CTCs): A CTC is a cancer cell from the tumor that’s traveling in your bloodstream.
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Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA): ctDNA is a DNA fragment from the tumor cell circulating in your blood. DNA contains the genetic code, or instructions, that control a cell’s behavior.
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CTCs and ctDNA in your blood provide evidence that you have a cancerous tumor. These pieces of your tumor also provide genetic information about the cancer that can help your healthcare provider decide what treatments may work best to treat it.
Liquid biopsy is a relatively new test with several potential groundbreaking uses in cancer treatment, with a few U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved uses. Research into its benefits is ongoing.
