Liquid Biopsy For Cancer Diagnosis: Everything You Need To Know

Hearing the word “cancer” is never easy—but what follows can be even tougher.

If you or a loved one has been through it, you know the drill: multiple appointments, invasive procedures, and endless waiting for results. It's overwhelming, especially when all you need is clarity, fast.

However, don't worry; there is an easier way to get answers with the new advancements in science. This is where liquid biopsy comes in. It’s a simple blood test that can help doctors find signs of cancer—without surgery or long waits. It’s faster, less painful, and easier on your body.

In this blog, we’ll explain what liquid biopsy is, how it works, when it’s used, and how it’s changing the way doctors detect and monitor cancer. Keep reading to know!

What Is Liquid Biopsy?

It is a simple, non-invasive test that checks for signs of cancer using fluids like blood, urine, or saliva. When cancer grows in the body, it releases tiny pieces of tumour cells or DNA into the bloodstream.¹

Doctors use this test to look for those pieces. It helps them detect cancer early, track its progression, and determine which treatment might work best for you.

Liquid Biopsy: Pros & Cons

Liquid biopsy is definitely changing the way cancer is detected. Still, like any medical test, it comes with its own strengths and limitations. 

Pros:

1. It’s Minimally Invasive

Unlike traditional biopsies that involve surgery or taking tissue from deep inside the body, liquid biopsy is usually done through a simple blood draw. It doesn’t involve any cuts or stitches—just a quick and simple blood test.²

2. Provides Faster Results

Traditional biopsies can take days or even weeks to process. Liquid biopsy, on the other hand, can deliver insights much faster, which help doctors make quicker decisions.²

3. Helps Detect Cancer Early

In some cases, it helps detect cancer even before symptoms appear.³

4. Tracks Real-Time Treatment

One of the most amazing pros of a liquid biopsy is that it can help doctors see how well the treatment is progressing without the need for any surgery or a scan.¹

5. Best Alternative To Surgical Biopsy

When traditional surgical biopsy is not safe or feasible to take a sample from certain parts of the body, a liquid biopsy can be the best option.¹

6. Less Expensive

It is less expensive than traditional tests and is a more reliable method at the same time.

Cons:

1. Might Miss Small Tumors

Liquid biopsy is pretty advanced, but it’s not perfect. If a tumor is very small or in its early-stage, they might not release enough biomarkers into the blood. And hence, it might give false negative results.^{4 5}

2. Limited FDA-Approved Tests

While research is moving fast, only a few liquid biopsy tests are officially approved for regular clinical use.¹

Liquid Biopsy vs. Traditional Biopsy: Key Differences

Here’s a quick comparison between liquid biopsy and traditional biopsy:

When Is A Liquid Biopsy Performed?

A liquid biopsy is done in the following situations: ¹

1. Early Detection of Cancer 

Doctors may use a liquid biopsy to catch cancer early, especially if you are at a higher risk of developing the disease. 

2. Monitoring Treatment Efficacy

It can be used to check whether your current treatment is effective or if it requires adjustments. 

3. Recurrence Detection

Liquid biopsies help look for signs of cancer returning after treatment. 

4. Personalised Medicine

They assist in selecting the right medication by analysing changes in specific genes, such as EGFR or KRAS. Alterations in these genes can influence how cancer progresses and which treatments may be more effective. 

5. Alternative to Surgical Biopsy

A liquid biopsy may be performed when a traditional (surgical) biopsy is too risky or impossible. For example, in areas where the tumours are difficult to access, that is lungs, brain or near any vital organs.

What are FDA-approved Liquid Biopsy Tests?

These are cancer detection tests that doctors already use in hospitals and clinics. They're safe, trusted, and most importantly — they don’t need surgery. Just a blood sample can give doctors the info they need.

Here are 4 FDA-approved liquid biopsy tests:

1. Guardant360® CDx -

Spots ctDNA (tiny traces of tumor DNA) in your blood. It helps doctors check if any cancer-related genetic changes happen in a person’s body.¹

2. FoundationOne® Liquid CDx 

Similar to Guardant360 — it also looks for ctDNA. The key difference? It can find changes linked to many types of cancer, not just one.¹

3. cobas® EGFR Mutation Test v2 

This test is used for people suffering from lung cancer. It is conducted to search for a mutation or defect in a gene called EGFR.. ¹

4. Biocept’s Target Selector™

The test searches for certain markers in the blood that are associated with breast, lung, and prostate cancers. ¹²

All these tests give doctors strong insights without needing patients to go through painful procedures.

What’s The Future Of Liquid Biopsies?

Liquid biopsy is advancing the way doctors can diagnose and treat cancer. Here's how ^{1 13 14 16}

• As technology gets better, doctors might detect cancer earlier before symptoms appear.
• Also with AI stepping in, results could come back quicker and be way more on point, helping doctors plan a better treatment plan.
• Liquid biopsy could even replace some of those heavy scans, making things way easier and less scarier for patients.
• Not just that, liquid biopsy may pave the way for vaccines tailored to a person’s unique cancer profile.

LifeCell Diagnostics: Helping You Take the Next Step

We offer a number of liquid biopsy tests that can assist in early detection of cancer and with tailored treatment planning. Some of the options available are listed below:

• ONCO0078 – OncoLife Targeted Liquid Biopsy (1212 Gene Panel)
• ONCO0054 – OncoLife Cell-Free Lung Cancer Panel (12 Genes)
• ONCO0154 – OncoLife Hotspot 50 Gene Panel Assay
• ONCO0039 – OncoLife 52 Gene Panel