Strategies for improving detection of circulating tumor DNA using next generation sequencing.

Cancer has become a global health issue and liquid biopsy has emerged as a non-invasive tool for various applications. In cancer, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can be detected from cell-free DNA (cfDNA) obtained from plasma and has potential for early diagnosis, treatment, resistance, minimal residual disease detection, and tumoral heterogeneity identification. However, the low frequency of ctDNA requires techniques for accurate analysis.

Molecular profiling of advanced solid tumours. The impact of experimental molecular-matched therapies on cancer patient outcomes in early-phase trials: the MAST study.

Introduction: Molecular-matched therapies have revolutionized cancer treatment. We evaluated the improvement in clinical outcomes of applying an in-house customized Next Generation Sequencing panel in a single institution.

Methods: Patients with advanced solid tumors were molecularly selected to receive a molecular-matched treatment into early phase clinical trials versus best investigators choice, according to the evaluation of a multidisciplinary molecular tumor board.