The prospect of using liquid biopsy in diagnosis and treatment strategy in patients with carcinomas of unknown primary

Background. The search and use of new molecular prognostic and predictive markers of efficacy detected by liquid biopsy are aimed at understanding the biology of Carcinomas of Unknown Primary (CUP) and improving results of patient treatment. The review is devoted to advances in scientific and clinical research on this issue.

Materials and methods. In order to assess the current state of the problem, a search and analysis of relevant data of the scientific databases PubMed, Medline, RISC was carried out.

Results. The scientific rationale for the use of liquid biopsy in clinical practice to improve the treatment of cancer patients with CUP is presented. The results of the use of modern approaches to the analysis of fluid biopsy samples in CUP are presented. In particular, the features of using circulating free DNA, circulating tumor DNA, circulating tumor cells in the analysis are considered. The modern possibilities of determining tissue specificity using liquid biopsy in CUP are discussed. The prospects for the development of liquid biopsy for improving diagnostics, determining the prognosis of the disease, and choosing a strategy for treating CUP and the treatment monitoring have been determined.

Conclusion. A review of the literature confirms that modern methods of molecular profiling of tumor cells obtained both as a result of liquid biopsy and tissue biopsies will make a significant contribution to the determination of tissue specificity, molecular characteristics of CUP for a personalized approach in order to improve strategies and treatment outcomes for patients with CUP.

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