Abstract

Lung cancer remains a significant global health challenge, with a high mortality rate often attributed to late-stage diagnosis. Traditional tissue biopsies have limitations, including invasiveness and the potential for sampling errors due to tumor heterogeneity. Liquid biopsies, a non-invasive diagnostic approach, have emerged as a promising tool for early detection, monitoring, and personalized treatment of lung cancer. This abstract reviews the current state of liquid biopsy technology in the context of lung cancer diagnosis and management. Liquid biopsies involve the analysis of circulating tumor components, such as cell-free DNA (cfDNA), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and exosomes, from blood or other bodily fluids. These biomarkers provide valuable information about the genetic and molecular characteristics of lung tumors. Key findings from recent studies suggest that liquid biopsies offer several advantages, including their minimally invasive nature, the ability to capture tumor heterogeneity, and the potential for real-time monitoring of treatment response and disease progression. Additionally, liquid biopsies can aid in the identification of actionable mutations, guiding targeted therapies, and the early detection of resistance mechanisms, which can inform treatment adjustments. In conclusion, liquid biopsies represent a promising avenue for non-invasive lung cancer diagnosis and management. As these techniques evolve, they have the potential to revolutionize the way we diagnose, monitor, and treat lung cancer, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and reduced mortality rates. Further research and clinical validation are essential to fully realize the potential of liquid biopsies in the field of lung cancer care.