Recent technological advancements have enabled the development of liquid biopsy-based approaches, which are revolutionizing the field of diagnostics. This webcast will highlight recent achievements facilitating the development of liquid biopsy-based tests in lung cancer and malignant glioma.
The analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) holds numerous clinical applications, from widely used non-invasive biomarker testing to potential prognostic significance. The impact on lung cancer patients is noteworthy as obtaining biopsies can be challenging due to the anatomy of the tumor. Furthermore, monitoring ctDNA levels throughout the disease course can prove valuable for tracking tumor response to treatment and for early detection of resistance mutations. Lastly, enhancements in assay sensitivity could enable testing for minimal residual disease (MRD) measurement and, ultimately, for devising strategies (complementing imaging techniques) aimed at enhancing the efficacy of lung cancer screening programs.
In glioblastoma (GB), a highly aggressive central nervous system tumor with a dismal prognosis, liquid biopsy research is groundbreaking. O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) methylation (mMGMT) stands as the sole well-established predictive and prognostic biomarker in GB, linked to enhanced treatment response and extended survival. Nevertheless, current methods for monitoring mMGMT status have fallen short. Now, small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are a potential game-changer poised to revolutionize clinical diagnostics via liquid biopsy.
Learn about:
• Understanding tumor heterogeneity and identifying key biomarkers
• Liquid biopsy testing developments
• Clinical research and screening applications of liquid biopsies
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Speakers
Atocha Romero, Director, Liquid Biopsy Laboratory (LBL), Medical Oncology Department, Puerta de Hierro Hospital
Atocha Romero is a Laboratory Medicine specialist who holds a PhD in Molecular Biology from Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Presently, Dr. Romero serves as the director of the Liquid Biopsy Laboratory (LBL), from the medical Oncology Department, at Puerta de Hierro Hospital. The LBL provides diagnostic services and undertakes research in the field of cancer biomarkers. Her research predominantly centers on the applicability of liquid biopsies in lung cancer patients in routine oncology as well as in the context of clinical trials. With over 90 publications in international journals to her name, she has also overseen multiple theses and holds accreditation from ANECA as an assistant professor.
Inmaculada Ibáñez de Cáceres, Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Institute of Medical and Molecular Genetics of Hospital Universitario La Paz (INGEMM)
Inmaculada Ibáñez de Cáceres is the Director of the Experimental Therapies and New Biomarkers in Cancer group (IdiPAZ) and Head of the Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory at the Institute of Medical and Molecular Genetics of Hospital Universitario La Paz (INGEMM). She holds a PhD in Molecular Biology from the Faculty of Medicine at Complutense University of Madrid and has extensive experience in preclinical, diagnostic, and translational cancer research. She received 3 years postdoctoral training at renowned institutions, including the Fox Chase Cancer Center and Johns Hopkins University in the USA. Clinically and preclinically, she collaborates with medical oncology, pulmonology, surgery, and pathological anatomy services. She also plays a key role in the epigenetic diagnosis of glioblastoma patients at Hospital La Paz, where this service has recently been incorporated into the hospital's genetics department.
Moderator
Sarah Hiddleston, Nature Research Custom Media
Sarah Hiddleston is a freelance journalist who has worked with Nature Research Custom Media since 2015. Previously, Sarah worked for a decade in Madras (Chennai), India, specialising in health, pharmaceutical and environmental stories. Sarah holds an MA in Investigative Journalism from City University London, an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics, and an undergraduate degree in History from the University of Cambridge, UK.
