Circulating Biomarkers in Gastric Cancer Diagnostics
Summary
Gastric cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide, largely as a result of late‐stage diagnosis and heterogeneity in tumour biology. Circulating biomarkers have emerged as vital tools to overcome the limitations of tissue biopsy, offering minimally invasive access to tumour‐derived material in body fluids. Key analytes include circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumour cells (CTCs), extracellular vesicles such as exosomes, cell‐free DNA (cfDNA), circulating microRNAs and tumour‐associated proteins. Advances in next‐generation sequencing, digital PCR and multiplex immunoassays have enabled sensitive detection of genetic and epigenetic alterations, quantification of tumour burden, and real‐time monitoring of treatment response. Epigenetic marks such as aberrant DNA methylation patterns present in cfDNA have proven particularly stable and discriminatory for early‐stage disease. Similarly, dynamic changes in ctDNA fragment size and allelic fraction can predict minimal residual disease and impending relapse. Exosomal cargo profiling offers complementary insights into tumour signalling pathways and microenvironmental crosstalk. Together, these circulating biomarkers promise to improve early detection, guide precision therapy and refine prognostic stratification on a global scale.
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Circulating Biomarkers in Gastric Cancer Diagnostics publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in circulating biomarkers in gastric cancer diagnostics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA): Fragments of tumour‐derived DNA released into the bloodstream, containing tumour‐specific genetic or epigenetic alterations.
Circulating tumour cells (CTCs): Intact malignant cells shed from a primary or metastatic tumour into peripheral blood, permitting cellular and molecular analyses.
Exosomes: Nano-sized extracellular vesicles secreted by cells, carrying proteins, lipids and RNAs that reflect the molecular state of the tumour.
Cell-free DNA (cfDNA): All DNA fragments present in plasma or serum, originating from both normal and tumour cells and used to assess tumour burden.
DNA methylation: An epigenetic modification involving addition of a methyl group to cytosine bases, often leading to gene silencing and serving as a stable biomarker.
References
- DNA methylation drives a new path in gastric cancer early detection: Current impact and prospects. Genes & Diseases (2023).
- Clinical applications and perspectives of circulating tumor DNA in gastric cancer. Cancer Cell International (2024).
- Liquid biopsy in gastric cancer: predictive and prognostic biomarkers. Cell Death & Disease (2022).
- Novel urinary protein biomarker panel for early diagnosis of gastric cancer. British Journal of Cancer (2020).
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