Key takeaways: A liquid biopsy is a sample of the patient’s blood that is analyzed for different biomarkers of mesothelioma. It’s less invasive and more timely than a traditional biopsy, which is important for diagnosis.
What is a liquid biopsy?
A “liquid biopsy” is a blood sample whose contents act as a proxy for a mesothelioma diagnosis. Usually, the only way to qualify a mesothelioma diagnosis—since its symptoms are similar to other, more common diseases—is to have a pleural biopsy taken. A “pleural biopsy” is a sample of living pleural tissue, and it’s a somewhat invasive procedure. Doctors will either use a needle to implant a device that extracts pleural liquid and tissue, or they’ll make a small incision between the ribs to open up the cavity.
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Mesothelioma’s latency period is up to several decades, meaning that mesothelioma onset usually occurs later in one’s life. A traditional biopsy can be a difficult and time-consuming procedure to administer, so liquid biopsies could revolutionize the speed and accuracy with which doctors can diagnose mesothelioma. Additionally, patients wouldn’t have to recover from or risk infection that’s associated with traditional biopsies.
How do liquid biopsies work?
Liquid biopsies test for an array of different molecules that signify a mesothelioma diagnosis. These molecules include:
- Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). ctDNA is released in trace amounts when tumor cells grow, die, or release signals to other tumor cells. Even though mesothelioma tumors have different DNA based on their origination and cell type, scientists have established a “baseline” for normal mesothelioma cells.
- Mesothelin, osteopontin, and fibulin-3. These molecules are either directly released by mesothelioma tumor cells (mesothelin), or are proxies for unchecked cellular growth. Osteopontin and fibulin-3 are associated with the growth of extracellular matrices and cell migration, both of which are characteristic of mesothelioma.
- Neutrophils and lymphocytes. Used in tandem in an assay called the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), these immune cells are indicative of inflammation in the body. Although implicated in other cancers as well, the NLR can be an indicator of sustained inflammation. Scientists believe that prolonged inflammation (as caused by ingested asbestos) is one of the biggest contributors to mesothelioma development.
- Circulating tumor cells (CTC). At the onset of mesothelioma development, CTC will be rare. As the cancer progresses, CTC are more common in blood, and can even be visualized in a liquid biopsy.
- Circulating microRNAs. microRNAs are molecules that have multiple functions, but they largely control the ways the genes are expressed. When the expression of genes is altered, mesothelioma can develop, grow, metastasize, and change metabolic functions. Targeting microRNAs is actually a novel form of treatment—their importance in mesothelioma development is being established. These can be visualized in a liquid biopsy.
This isn’t an exhaustive list of the molecules and metrics that doctors can test for in a liquid biopsy. None of the molecules independently can qualify a mesothelioma diagnosis. However, when analyzed together, they can paint a picture of a patient’s internal stasis. A liquid biopsy can simplify the diagnostic process, and by effect, can make treatments more effective. If diagnosis can happen earlier, then treatment can happen earlier, too.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, please call The Halpern Law Firm at 1 (800) 505 – 6000. We are here to help you navigate the legal process just like we have helped many others. Do not hesitate to contact us today.
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