Affiliations: Department of Medical Statistics, Informatics and
Health Economics, Innsbruck Medical University, A-6020 Innsbruck,
Austria | Department of General and Transplant Surgery,
Innsbruck Medical University, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Note: [] Corresponding author: Hannes M. Müller, MD, Department of
General and Transplant Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, A-6020 Innsbruck,
Austria. Tel.: +43 512 504 22555; Fax: +43 512 504 28519; E-mail:
hannes.mueller@uibk.ac.at
Abstract: It is now widely accepted that there is a need for the development
of molecular markers of cancer that can be used for clinical prognostication
and monitoring. Approximately a decade ago tumor-derived circulating nucleic
acids in the plasma or serum (CNAPS) of cancer patients were introduced as a
noninvasive tool for cancer detection. This review focuses on the various types
of CNAPS of patients with solid neoplasias (genetic alterations in circulating
DNA, microsatellites, methylated DNA, viral DNA, nucleosomes, mitochondrial DNA
and cell-free mRNA) and their putative potential as prognostic or predictive
parameter or even as a tool for therapy monitoring during follow-up.
Additionally, this review aims to point out the difference between a prognostic
and a predictive factor in patient bloodstream. However, with rapid technical
improvement and well-designed studies we conclude that the next years will see
CNAPS analysis integrated in the prognostication and monitoring of cancer
patients, thus producing more specific treatment regimens for patients with
various stages of neoplastic disease and ultimately longer survival and better
quality of life.
