Cell-free nucleic acids

In any human’s bodily fluids, including blood, urine, saliva or feces, there are small segments of DNA and RNA present independent of cells. These cell-free nucleic acids (cfNAs) can contain key information about an individual’s health and – by profiling specific genetic and epigenetic markers in these cfNAs – can help diagnose specific diseases, such as cancer, provide prognostic information and can even outline which therapeutic course to follow for a patient.

Recent advances in these profiling techniques and in the collection of cfNAs have ushered in the era of liquid biopsy, which allows clinicians and researchers alike to extract and analyze cfNAs from the aforementioned sample types. This enables the diagnosis, prognosis and study of numerous conditions, without the need to conduct an invasive biopsy of the diseased tissue.

This In Focus, sponsored by Zymo Research, will cover:

• The use of cfNAs in diagnostics and basic research
• The technological developments improving the capabilities of liquid biopsy
• The remaining challenges in liquid biopsy development and the solutions available to resolve them