Advances in Liquid Biopsy for Early Detection and Monitoring of Cancer
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 42
Special Issue Editors
Interests: translational research; biomarkers; liquid biopsy; oncology
Interests: translational research; biomarkers; liquid biopsy; oncology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: molecular characterization; circulating tumor cells; new methods development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Early detection of cancer remains one of the most critical challenges in oncology, as many malignancies are diagnosed at advanced stages when curative treatment options are limited. Traditional diagnostic approaches, including imaging and tissue biopsy, are often invasive, costly, and lack the sensitivity needed to identify tumors at their inception. In recent years, liquid biopsy has emerged as a transformative diagnostic modality, offering a non-invasive, real-time, and dynamic view of tumor biology through the analysis of circulating biomarkers present in body fluids. By enabling earlier detection, more precise risk stratification, and better monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD), liquid biopsy holds immense promise for shifting the cancer care paradigm toward personalized and preventative medicine.
This Special Issue presents a comprehensive overview of recent progress in liquid biopsy technologies aimed at improving the early detection and molecular characterization of cancer. Liquid biopsy, encompassing the analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), exosomes, microRNAs, and other tumor-derived analytes in biofluids, represents a minimally invasive approach with significant potential for early-stage cancer diagnosis and longitudinal disease monitoring.
Key areas of focus include the following: ultra-sensitive detection platforms; molecular biomarker discovery; integration with artificial intelligence; and challenges and standardization.
Dr. Nicola Normanno
Dr. Paola Ulivi
Dr. Tania Rossi
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- ctDNA
- circulating tumor cells
- microRNAs
- exosomes
- methylation
- fragmentomics
- early detection
- minimal residual disease
- artificial intelligence
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