REVIEW article
Front. Oncol.
Sec. Cancer Molecular Targets and Therapeutics
Volume 15 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1520733
Circulating tumor DNA laboratory processes and clinical applications in Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Provisionally accepted
- 1School of Medical Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- 2College of Medicine, Shantou University, Shantou, China
- 3Medical Laboratory, Third Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- 4Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), a subset of cell-free DNA (cfDNA), originates from primary tumors and metastatic lesions in cancer patients, often carrying genomic variations identical to those of the primary tumor. ctDNA analysis via liquid biopsy has proven to be a valuable biomarker for early cancer detection, minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment, monitoring tumor recurrence, and evaluating treatment efficacy. However, despite advancements in ctDNA analysis technologies, standardized protocols for its extraction and detection have yet to be established. Each step of the process-from pre-analytical variables to detection techniques-significantly impacts the accuracy and reliability of ctDNA analysis. This review examines recent developments in ctDNA detection methods, focusing on pre-analytical factors such as specimen types, collection tubes, centrifugation protocols, and storage conditions, alongside high-throughput and ultra-sensitive detection technologies. It also briefly discusses the clinical potential of liquid biopsy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
Keywords: CtDNA, Pre-analytical, Detected methods, biomarker, nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Received: 31 Oct 2024; Accepted: 28 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Wu, Yang, Li, Ji, Mo, Zhou, Xu and Xiong. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Dan Xiong, School of Medical Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.