Review
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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 28, 2014; 20(12): 3265-3286
Published online Mar 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i12.3265
Liquid biopsy of gastric cancer patients: Circulating tumor cells and cell-free nucleic acids
Masahiro Tsujiura, Daisuke Ichikawa, Hirotaka Konishi, Shuhei Komatsu, Atsushi Shiozaki, Eigo Otsuji
Masahiro Tsujiura, Daisuke Ichikawa, Hirotaka Konishi, Shuhei Komatsu, Atsushi Shiozaki, Eigo Otsuji, Division of Digestive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
Author contributions: Tsujiura M and Ichikawa D equally contributed to this paper; Konishi H, Shuhei K and Shiozaki A assisted collection and assembly of data; Otsuji E supervised the work.
Correspondence to: Daisuke Ichikawa, MD, PhD, Division of Digestive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachihirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan. ichikawa@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-75-2515527 Fax: +81-75-2515522
Received: September 26, 2013
Revised: December 27, 2013
Accepted: February 20, 2014
Published online: March 28, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: The potent utilities of circulating tumor cells and cell-free nucleic acids have recently attracted attention toward their clinical application in therapeutic management of cancer patients. The concept of “liquid biopsy” can allow for repeated samplings and real-time monitoring of tumor dynamics in each individual patient and consequently would facilitate the development of “tailor-made” cancer management programs. Before translating this novel diagnostic and prognostic assay into the clinical settings, further large-scale studies with well-established methods are required to validate its clinical relevance.