Special Focus: The Rise of Liquid Biopsy Testing

By Lori Solomon, Editor, Diagnostic Testing & Emerging Technologies

Early in the year DTET spoke to experts that predicted 2015 would be the year that liquid biopsy technology penetrates the clinical oncology market. These predictions did not disappoint. A near continuous stream of publications, conference presentations, and company press releases about launches of liquid biopsy products occurred throughout the year.

Liquid biopsy technology holds enormous potential to transform the medical management of oncology patients by providing noninvasive, real-time insights of disease status. Also known as a "molecular stethoscope," liquid biopsies are integral to personalizing cancer care.

Liquid biopsy technology is expected to ultimately permeate the entire continuum of cancer care—from early detection, treatment selection and treatment monitoring through recurrence surveillance—although early adoption will be concentrated in treatment monitoring.

Given its noninvasive nature, serial testing with liquid biopsies offers clinicians an ongoing opportunity to track disease status throughout treatment. This continuous monitoring enables clinicians to catch emerging mutations or disease progression and ensure treatment selection remains relevant much sooner than a radiological examination can.

Although the current liquid biopsy field has been described by analysts as "nascent," it has the potential to quickly become a multi-billion dollar market, with some predictions that it could reach $10 billion. The technology of cell-free DNA or circulating rare cell capture and analysis is also expected to be applicable in other clinical areas including transplant monitoring, but the most meaningful initial adoption is expected in oncology care.

While 2015 was a pivotal year for liquid biopsies, 2016 is expected to be just as exciting. Uptake for the monitoring application is expected to be quick, with predictions that the liquid biopsy will become part of routine care within five years. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the liquid biopsy market in 2016.

Please click here to read the special focus story on liquid biopsy, published in Diagnostic Testing & Emerging Technologies in February 2015.