Liquid biopsy: Liquid biopsy refers to the collection of body fluids (e.g. blood, urine, saliva etc.). Unlike tissue/tumor biopsy, the procedure is minimally-invasive and the fluids easily accessible.
Circulating Tumour DNA (ctDNA): Fragments of DNA shed by tumor cells into the bloodstream. These short DNA fragments allow for non-invasive monitoring of cancer dynamics and treatment response. It serves as a biomarker for assessing tumor burden, genetic alterations, and therapeutic efficacy and can be used to aid more personalized cancer management strategies.
Minimal Residual Disease (MRD): The small number of cancer cells that may remain in the body during or after treatment, even when the patient is in remission or appears to be cancer-free. MRD detection involves highly sensitive tests that can find these residual cells, helping doctors monitor disease status more accurately and make informed decisions about further treatment or ongoing management. In essence, it’s about spotting those few lingering cancer cells that could potentially regrow into a tumor and are not detectable by medical imaging, even when the patient seems to be doing well.
Adjuvant Therapy: Treatment given after a primary intervention, like surgery or chemotherapy, to lower the chances of cancer relapse.
Multi-modal Therapy: When different types of treatments, like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation, are used in combination to treat cancer.
