The molecular signatures of tumor cells are often used to select patients for clinical trial recruitment. In this video, Gerhardt Attard, MD, PhD, FRCP, of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, speaks about a discussion session held at the UK Oncology Forum (OF) 2018 in Liverpool, UK, which explored the challenges associated with different sampling methods for prostate cancer, including tumor and liquid biopsies. While tumor biopsies are highly invasive and often do not yield enough cancer cells, liquid biopsies, though easy and repeatable, include normal DNA and cells which must be accounted for. Dr Attard concludes that a combinatory approach is usually the most effective.
Liquid vs. tissue biopsies for prostate cancer
