A new Nature Communications Medicine article dives into the expanding role of ctDNA-based liquid biopsies in colorectal cancer. From guiding targeted therapies in metastatic CRC to detecting minimal residual disease after surgery, liquid biopsy holds potential to redefine care pathways.
But while the science is compelling, real-world clinical utility remains under scrutiny. FDA approvals have rolled in, yet long-term survival benefits and cost-effectiveness are still unproven for many applications. Early screening, too, shows promise—but with limitations in detecting precancerous lesions, it’s no replacement for colonoscopy just yet.