Effects of Cell-free DNA Fragment Size on Liquid Biopsy Sensitivity

In this webinar, learn about cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis, an emerging diagnostic method in liquid biopsy for early cancer detection and minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring. By analyzing cfDNA in readily accessible biofluids like blood, liquid biopsy provides a less invasive and repeatable approach that can provide valuable information throughout a patient’s diagnostic journey. Analysis of DNA released by tumors, or circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), is particularly important because it carries genetic and epigenetic changes indicative of cancer. However, ctDNA often represents only a small fraction of the total cfDNA in a patient sample and includes short, damaged, and single-stranded DNA fragments, which are often overlooked by conventional methods. Realizing the potential of ctDNA as a cancer biomarker therefore requires overcoming several pre-analytical and technical challenges to capture a more complete representation of the cfDNA landscape in each patient sample.

• How a novel extraction chemistry enables efficient recovery of a wider range of cfDNA fragment sizes from plasma and other biological fluids
• About the effect of different NGS library prep techniques on cfDNA data
• Which different "layers" of data are observable from cfDNA analysis and their use in liquid biopsy diagnostics

Improving the accuracy, depth, and diversity of cfDNA sequencing data could strengthen liquid biopsy tests and expand their potential for cancer detection, classification, and monitoring. Integrating robust wet- and dry-lab methodologies, and understanding how these approaches interact, is essential for maximizing cfDNA-based test sensitivity and accuracy.