Liquid Biopsies for Cancer

A narrative review in JAMA synthesizes the current evidence on liquid biopsy — primarily circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) — as a tool for guiding cancer treatment decisions. The review covers three key clinical applications: real-time monitoring of disease progression, detection of minimal residual disease after curative-intent therapy, and identification of actionable genomic alterations. While ctDNA-based assays are increasingly integrated into clinical practice across multiple tumor types, the authors note that standardization of platforms and prospective validation in interventional trials remain critical next steps.