Liquid biopsy continues to play an increasingly important role in precision oncology.

Through cfDNA / ctDNA analysis, doctors may detect cancer-related mutations from a simple blood sample, offering valuable genomic insights in a minimally invasive way.

cfDNA (cell-free DNA) consists of small DNA fragments released into the bloodstream by dying cells — both normal and cancerous. The portion that comes specifically from tumors is known as ctDNA.

Detecting these mutations may help:
• Identify potentially actionable alterations linked to targeted therapies
• Monitor treatment response over time
• Detect resistance-related changes earlier than conventional imaging in some cases
• Support decision-making when tissue biopsy is difficult, risky, or insufficient
• Provide a less invasive way to observe disease behavior and minimal residual disease (MRD)

However, modern cancer biology is complex.

Finding a mutation does not always mean that the gene is actively driving the cancer at that moment. A mutation may exist, but the biological pathway itself may not be strongly expressed or functionally dominant.