Liquid biopsy refers to the analysis of tumor-associated material found in body fluids. Circulating tumor cells are one such source of information and can be studied for cell morphology, protein markers, and molecular characteristics.
CTC workflows generally include enrichment, staining, imaging, and interpretation. Positive-selection methods capture cells that express selected markers, while negative-selection methods remove unwanted blood cells and may preserve a broader range of CTC phenotypes.
CTC testing remains an adjunct to established clinical assessment. Results should be interpreted together with pathology, imaging, medical history, and other laboratory findings.
