Liquid Biopsy: Cancer’s Clues in the Blood

A liquid biopsy is a blood test that looks for cancer cells or genetic material, such as DNA, that are shed into the bloodstream in patients with cancer. In this episode of CancerCast, Dr. Massimo Cristofanilli and Dr. Manish Shah explore how liquid biopsies unlock real-time insights into cancer evolution through molecular diagnostics, painting a more comprehensive and holistic picture of what’s going on with cancer inside the body, and often much earlier than other imaging tools. By analyzing circulating tumor cells, cell-free DNA or circulating tumor DNA, liquid biopsies can offer many clues that may predict cancer recurrence, guide treatment decisions, or detect resistance to certain treatments. Learn more about how this evolving non-invasive technology enables more personalized care for patients.

Guest: Massimo Cristofanilli, MD, Associate Director of Precision Oncology at the Weill Cornell Medicine Meyer Cancer Center (MCC), Co-Leader of the MCC Breast Cancer Disease Management Team and Scientific Director of the Englander Institute for Precision Medicine (EIPM)

Host: Manish Shah, MD, Chief of Solid Tumor Service and Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

Learn more about Massimo Cristofanilli, MD.