Liquid Biopsy: Holy Grail of Cancer Detection

Oral cancer has become the most common cause of mortality in India. Timely diagnosis, treatment and patient monitoring can help increasing the survival rates. Liquid biopsy can be defined as molecular analysis of tumour products in blood stream. As tumours shed parts of themselves into the circulation, analyses of circulating tumour cells, circulating tumour DNA and tumour-derived exosomes, may enable tumour genome characterisation by minimally invasive means. It is a newer concept that has revolutionised the diagnostic world by being a game changer. The present review discusses the current technologies and then elaborates on emerging novel concepts that may further propel the field.