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 |