Characterization of genomic clones using circulating tumor DNA in patients with hepatocarcinoma

Cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA), harboring tumor-specific mutations, is released by apoptotic and necrotic tumor cells and found in the cell-free fraction of blood (1). Plasma derived ctDNA has been recognized as a potential non-invasive surrogate for tumor tissue biopsies, also known as “liquid biopsy” (2). Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) studies of ctDNA have revealed that ctDNA is a potential marker related to various forms of human cancers (3-5). It can be used as a potential marker to predict disease risk, patient outcomes or response to treatment