J Thorac Dis. 2026 May 31;18(5):548. doi: 10.21037/jtd-2026-1-0127. Epub 2026 Apr 24.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Lung cancer is one of the malignant tumors with the highest incidence and mortality rates. Most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, thus missing the golden period for diagnosis and treatment. Tissue biopsy is the most commonly used method for diagnosing lung cancer, but it is an invasive procedure. Patients with poor physical conditions may be unable to tolerate it, and it may even cause complications such as infection, pneumothorax and hemorrhage. On the other hand, repeated sampling is difficult to perform, which makes dynamic monitoring of tumor changes impossible, thus posing a significant obstacle to the adjustment of subsequent treatment plans. Emerging molecular diagnostic technologies, represented by liquid biopsy, have been developed rapidly. This may become one of the promising approaches for non-invasive monitoring of lung cancer. This review aims to summarize the biological basis, clinical applications, limitations, and future perspectives of ctDNA-based liquid biopsy in lung cancer.
METHODS: Relevant literature was identified through PubMed and a series of major oncology journals. Articles published in English within the past decade were preferentially considered. The selection focused on studies related to circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based liquid biopsy in lung cancer, including its biological basis, clinical applications, and translational potential.Keys Content and Findings: This review describes in detail liquid biopsy centered on ctDNA, summarizes its application advantages in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, and systematically analyzes its clinical translation value.
CONCLUSIONS: This technology only requires collecting patients' body fluid samples. By utilizing tumor biomarkers such as ctDNA, it enable non-invasive monitoring and guides treatment while avoiding the injuries caused by invasive procedures. Although the clinical value of this technology varies across different application scenarios, and some of its uses are still in the research and exploration stage, it has demonstrated considerable application prospects in clinical practice.
PMID:42306692 | PMC:PMC13266843 | DOI:10.21037/jtd-2026-1-0127