Clinical utilisation and survival correlation of blood-based liquid biopsy in sarcoma — A systematic review and meta-analysis
Cancer-fighting DNA circulating in blood strongly predicts sarcoma recurrence, offering a practical tool for closer monitoring when tissue biopsies are difficult to repeat.
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 studies quantifies for the first time the prognostic impact of liquid biopsy in sarcoma, demonstrating that detectable circulating cell-free DNA is associated with an 82% increase in risk of death and a 123% increase in risk of disease recurrence. The findings provide a quantitative foundation for integrating liquid biopsy into sarcoma monitoring paradigms, particularly given the practical challenges of repeated tissue sampling in these tumors.
What the study was
- Study design
- Systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA; 9 studies)
- Population
- Sarcoma patients (STS and bone sarcoma) across multiple studies
- Category
- Early Detection
- Maturity
- Validated
- Journal
- Surgical Oncology
Why it surfaced
First quantitative meta-analytic evidence for liquid biopsy prognostic value in sarcoma; design quality elevated by systematic review/meta-analysis methodology. Limited by only 9 included studies and small meta-analytic n for survival outcomes.
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