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Table 3 Differences in CTC, cfDNA and ctDNA utilization in MRD

From: Advances in the assessment of minimal residual disease in mantle cell lymphoma

 

CTCs

cfDNA

ctDNA

Strengths

-Minimally invasive

-Easily repeated

-FDA-approved method available

-Cancer therapy management

-Appropriate for solid tumor cancer subtypes

-Minimally invasive

-Easily repeated

-Easily obtainable

-Detect drug mutations

-Aid in drug selection and therapy response prediction

-Monitoring for emerging drug resistance

-Minimally invasive

-Easily repeated

-Drug resistance detection at gene level

-Driver mutation detection at gene level

-Appropriate for liquid tumor cancer subtypes

Weaknesses

-Dilution by benign epithelial cells

-Large size not suitable for filtration

-Reflects circulating disease only

-Diluted with DNA from healthy cells

-Present in inflammatory states and aging

-Predetermined somatic alterations needed

-Single-cell analysis not permitted

-Standardized nor validated method not available yet

-Dilution by cfDNA from non-malignant cells

-Low amounts available