Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42472109›Full record

ReviewiScience2026

The role of serologic biomarkers "liquid biopsy" in the fight against breast cancer: From biological foundations to clinical impact.

Yan Li, Yi Wang, Rongrong Wang, Ying Liu, Jianying Pei

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in iScience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Yan LiDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Yi WangSchool of Public Health, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Rongrong WangSchool of Public Health, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Ying LiuDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Centre, Gansu Province Maternity and Child-care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Jianying PeiDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Centre, Gansu Province Maternity and Child-care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Liquid biopsy, analyzing circulating tumor-derived components, including ctDNA, circulating tumor cells, microRNAs, and exosomes, has emerged as a key tool in precision oncology. This review synthesizes evidence from the past five years, covering biological mechanisms, analytical platforms, clinical applications, and implementation barriers. Evidence from multiple clinical studies suggests ctDNA shows higher sensitivity for metastatic disease monitoring than conventional biomarkers such as CA15-3 and circulating tumor cells. For minimal residual disease detection, tumor-informed assays demonstrate sensitivity of 88%-100% and provide a median lead time of 8-15 months before clinical relapse. Despite these advances, early-stage cancer detection remains suboptimal, cost-effectiveness evidence is limited, and disparities in access are increasing. We critically evaluate current technologies and translational gaps and highlight the need for standardized clinical integration pathways. Overall, liquid biopsy is transitioning from a complementary diagnostic tool toward a longitudinal framework for cancer management, although substantial methodological and systemic challenges remain.

Indexed as

Artificial intelligencebreast cancercirculating tumor DNAhealth equityliquid biopsyminimal residual diseaseprecision medicine

Identifiers

PMID42472109
PMCPMC13380445

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.