Liquid Biopsy in Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer—A Biologist's Point of View

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the main cause of cancer-related mortality in males and the diagnosis, treatment, and care of these patients places a great burden on healthcare systems globally. Clinically, PCa is highly heterogeneous, ranging from indolent tumors to highly aggressive disease. In many cases treatment—generally either radiotherapy (RT) or surgery—can be curative. Several key genetic and demographic factors such as age, family history, genetic susceptibility, and race are associated with a high incidence of PCa. While our understanding of PCa, which is mainly based on the tools of molecular biology—has improved dramatically in recent years, efforts to better understand this complex disease have led to the identification of a new type of PCa–oligometastatic PCa. Oligometastatic disease should be considered an individual, heterogeneous entity with distinct metastatic phenotypes and, consequently, wide prognostic variability. In general, patients with oligometastatic disease typically present less biologically aggressive tumors whose metastatic potential is more limited and which are slow-growing. These patients are good candidates for more aggressive treatment approaches. The main aim of the presented review was to evaluate the utility of liquid biopsy for diagnostic purposes in PCa and for use in monitoring disease progression and treatment response, particularly in patients with oligometastatic PCa. Liquid biopsies offer a rapid, non-invasive approach whose use t is expected to play an important role in routine clinical practice to benefit patients. However, more research is needed to resolve the many existing discrepancies with regard to the definition and isolation method for specific biomarkers, as well as the need to determine the most appropriate markers. Consequently, the current priority in this field is to standardize liquid biopsy-based techniques. This review will help to improve understanding of the biology of PCa, particularly the recently defined condition known as “oligometastatic PCa”. The presented review of the body of evidence suggests that additional research in molecular biology may help to establish novel treatments for oligometastatic PCa. In the near future, the treatment of PCa will require an interdisciplinary approach involving active cooperation among clinicians, physicians, and biologists.

Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells and Its Application in Prostate Cancer

“…5 At present, it is believed that the characteristic markers of CTC are: N-Calcium mucin (membrane protein of calcium mucin family), vimentin (a structural cytoskeletal protein), the nuclear localization of β-catenin protein and transcription factors such as SNAIL, SNAI2, TWIST, homeobox1-ZEB1, ZEB2, and TCF3. 6 CTC can be isolated by identifying epithelial markers on the cell surface. However, it has been reported that the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation mechanism can cause epithelial cells to lose polarity, resulting in loose intercellular connections and eventually become cells with the morphology and characteristics of mesenchymal cells.…”

Research Progress for the Clinical Application of Circulating Tumor Cells in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

“…As of 2020 [ 3 ], the incidence of PCa has also increased in China [ 4 , 5 ]. Several factors have been linked to the risk of PCa, including age, family history, genetic susceptibility, race, and others [ 6 ]. Generally, the symptoms of early-stage PCa are not obvious, and by the time of diagnosis, the disease has progressed to an advanced stage with the possibility of distant metastasis [ 7 ].…”

Cell-free DNA From Pleural Effusion Samples: Is It Right for Molecular Testing in Lung Adenocarcinoma?

“…Unfortunately, many variables influence the actual amount and composition of the extractable cfDNA, and blood liquid biopsies may remain unsuccesful in up to 50% of the samples [8].…”