Liquid biopsies in myeloid malignancies

Abstract

Hematologic malignancies are the most common type of cancer affecting children and young adults, and encompass diseases, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, all of which impact blood associated tissues such as the bone marrow, lymphatic system, and blood cells. Clinical diagnostics of these malignancies relies heavily on the use of bone marrow samples, which is painful, debilitating, and not free from risks for leukemia patients. Liquid biopsies are based on minimally invasive assessment of markers in the blood (and other fluids) and have the potential to improve the efficacy of diagnostic/therapeutic strategies in leukemia patients, providing a useful tool for the real time molecular profiling of patients. The most promising noninvasive biomarkers are circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, microRNAs, and exosomes. Herein, we discuss the role of assessing these circulating biomarkers for the understanding of tumor progression and metastasis, tumor progression dynamics through treatment and for follow-up.

Tailored point-of-care biosensors for liquid biopsy in the field of oncology

“…Several complex matrices make up the body fluids, especially the peripheral blood, which contains billions of blood cells and different proteins. 17,18 Both require techniques that facilitate remarkably efficient enhancement and robust signal amplification. In order to detect fragile CTCs, a sensitive isolation and release method is required.…”

Liquid biopsy in hematological malignancies: current and future applications

“…The diagnosis of most myeloid neoplasms is based on morphological, immunophenotypic, and molecular characterization of bone marrow (BM) aspirates and biopsies. In addition, MRD monitoring in these neoplasms, with the exception of chronic myeloid leukemia, is currently based on sequential results obtained from BM ( 73 ). Initial studies demonstrated that cfDNA in patients with myeloid neoplasms is higher than in healthy controls, and it can be used as a reliable tool for the identification of genomic abnormalities specific to myeloid neoplasm ( 74 , 75 ).…”

Current and Emerging Techniques for Diagnosis and MRD Detection in AML: A Comprehensive Narrative Review

“…At the initial stages of the disease, PB analysis showing a high number of abnormal white blood cells (WBC), or even a very low blood count, can indicate the presence of AML. Hence, the confirmation of the AML diagnosis is performed by further morphologic and cytogenetic assessment in BM aspirates [6,33]. The immunophenotyping by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) is conventionally used to accurately diagnose AML based on the identification of intracellular and extracellular markers (e.g., CD13, CD33 and CD34).…”

“…One of the less invasive procedures that have been extensively studied and applied as a complementary method is the PB biopsy, also known as liquid biopsy [6]. This is currently a complementary technique to the gold standard method for the detection of leukemia or MRD because of a smaller number of LSCs in the PB when compared with BM aspirates [34].…”

“…As such, leukemia can affect myeloblasts (myeloid) or lymphocytic precursors (lymphoid), and can be classified as acute (fast proliferation) or chronic (slow proliferation) [5]. Consequently, leukemia is mainly divided into four types: acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL), and chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) [6]. Depending on the type of leukemia, patients undergo tailored chemotherapy until they clinically reach complete remission (CR).…”