Circulating DNA as a Biomarker for Early Detection of Cancer: A Brief Update with an Emphasis on Lung Cancer

ABSTRACT

In most cases, early detection and treatment of cancer are prerequisites for full recovery. However, its early detection continues to be extremely difficult since its characteristic symptoms rarely manifest at the onset of disease. The development of highly sensitive, specific biomarkers also capable of reflecting pathological changes is, therefore, of the upmost importance. Lung cancer, for example, is most frequently diagnosed during the late metastatic stage so that, as a result, malignant neoplasms in the lung are among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Circulating DNA is a non-invasive diagnostic assay that has been greatly improved for the purposes of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancer. In the current review, we discuss recent data concerning circulating tumor-derived DNA as a tool for early detection, diagnosis, and follow-up. Given the scope of this review, the focus will be on lung cancer, one of the most prolific and lethal cancers affecting humanity today.

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