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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
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, 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
Processing time: 181 Days and 13.2 Hours
Revised: December 27, 2013
Accepted: February 20, 2014
Published online: March 28, 2014
Processing time: 181 Days and 13.2 Hours
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.