The aims of the book are to bring together expertise in working with circulating DNA from blood, and systematically address technical aspects of each step from blood collection through DNA purification and analysis, as well as commercial considerations for circulating DNA-based diagnostics. Since circulating DNA offers non-invasive 'liquid biopsy' access to the cancer genome, there has been a great deal of excitement in both academic and commercial spheres about its use it for diagnostic applications in cancer.Cell-free circulating DNA is found in blood plasma, and is not associated with any cell fraction. While the origin and biological function of cell-free DNA is poorly understood, it has many potential clinical applications. In pregnant women, a fraction of the cell-free DNA is of fetal origin and forms the basis of Non-Invasive Pre-natal Testing (NIPT). NIPT has been a tremendous clinical and commercial success, replacing previously established diagnostic tests and decreasing the number of unnecessary invasive procedures.In patients with cancer, a proportion of the cell-free DNA in plasma is derived from the tumour. Since cancer is a disease driven by underlying DNA abnormality, access to tumour DNA via a simple blood sample promises information about a range of tumour properties including mutations, drug sensitivity, and changes in tumour burden during treatment. In the age of targeted cancer therapies, these are all important to cancer treatment. Perhaps most excitingly, cell-free DNA detection has the potential for diagnosing cancer early, when surgical removal effects a cure without the need for further drug treatment.The aim of the book is to bring together expert opinion on techniques for working with circulating DNA and identify and resolve the technical issues that hamper the development of effective circulating DNA based diagnostics.

Book Information
ISBN 9789811244674
Author Kristina Warton
Format Hardback
Page Count 300
Imprint World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd
Publisher World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd