Detection and monitoring of cancer using ctDNA andMicrofluidics

Currently, the gold standard for cancer validation and/or analysis is tissuebiopsy. Tissue biopsy is an invasive procedure of tumor cell obtaining. Insome types of cancer, access to tumor cells is difficult and this procedure isnot ideal for monitoring cancer because in most cases, obtaining multiplebiopsies is not possible. In ۱۹۸۷, Stroun et al. discovered a potentialcorrelation between cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and cancer. Circulating tumorDNA (ctDNA) is tumor-derived cfDNA with ۱۰۰ to ۲۰۰ base pairs thatrelease into the bloodstream and other body fluids from apoptotic or necrotictumor cells. ctDNAs have ۱۶ min to ۲.۵ hours of half-life and are clearedby the liver and kidneys. Since ctDNAs are tumor-derived and carry theDNA of tumor cells, can be used as cancer biomarkers. Moreover, ctDNAcan be used for the early detection of cancer and cancer screenings.As mentioned above, tissue biopsy has some disadvantages that make itunsuitable, especially for cancer monitoring. With the help of ctDNA,physicians constantly would be able to monitor cancer progression risk,response to treatment, etc. with a simple withdrawal of blood.Microfluidic technology has drawn a lot of attention in the past decade andmany papers have been published showing its capabilities and potentials.The combination of ctDNA and microfluidic chip technology has thepotential to lead us more toward personalized medicine and provide constantinformation about cancerous cells that can help us to have more control overtreatment.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cancer ، ctDNA ، microfluidic chip ، cancer monitoring ، cancerdetection