Circulating cell-free DNA as a biomarker in the diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer

摘要: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a disease without evident clinical symptoms in early stages, leading to late diagnosis and management. Current diagnostic prognostic tools require invasive procedures circulating molecular biomarkers fail have optimal sensitivity specificity. Circulating with high performance may be valuable for prognosis of CRC. The purpose this review was investigate the application cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) CRC analytical methods used blood samples articles published between 2005 2016. Based on specific inclusion exclusion criteria, 26 were selected. Most studies ccfDNA quantification as biomarker. method mainly based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Biomarkers aberrantly methylated genes (n=6) integrity/fragmentation (n=2) also diagnosis. detection oncogene mutations, such KRAS BRAF, ccfDNA. Significant differences found variables among revealing potential bias. biomarker has promising results but it lacks specificity since other diseases present similar increase content. However, increasing research epigenomic field can lead way clinically As method, qPCR derivatives seem perfectly valid technique. use seems promising. attempt practice reside using