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Cell-free DNA (cfDNA), a burgeoning class of molecular biomarkers, has been extensively studied across a variety of biomedical fields. As a key component of liquid biopsy, cfDNA testing is gaining prominence in disease detection and management due to the convenience of sample collection and the abundant wealth of genetic information it provides. However, the broader clinical application of cfDNA is currently impeded by a lack of standardization in the preanalytical procedures for cfDNA analysis. A number of fundamental challenges, including the selection of appropriate preanalytical procedures, prevention of short cfDNA fragment loss, and the validation of various cfDNA measurement methods, remain unaddressed. These existing hurdles lead to difficulties in comparing results and ensuring repeatability, thereby undermining the reliability of cfDNA analysis in clinical settings. This review discusses the crucial preanalytical factors that influence cfDNA analysis outcomes, including sample collection, transportation, temporary storage, processing, extraction, quality control, and long-term storage. The review provides clarification on achievable consensus and offers an analysis of the current issues with the goal of standardizing preanalytical procedures for cfDNA analysis.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2024.1385041 | DOI Listing |
PLoS One
September 2025
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Background: Current aftercare in breast cancer survivors aims to detect local recurrences or contralateral disease, while the detection of distant metastases has not been a central focus due to a lack of evidence supporting an effect on overall survival. However, the data underpinning these guidelines are mainly from trials of the 1980s/1990s and have not been updated to reflect the significant advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic options that have emerged over the past 40 years. In this trial, the aim is to test whether a liquid biopsy-based detection of (oligo-) metastatic disease at an early pre-symptomatic stage followed by timely treatment can impact overall survival compared to current standard aftercare.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNucleic Acids Res
September 2025
Division of Chromatin Regulation, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan.
Methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me), a hallmark of heterochromatin, is catalyzed by Clr4/Suv39. Clr4/Suv39 contains two conserved domains-an N-terminal chromodomain and a C-terminal catalytic domain-connected by an intrinsically disordered region (IDR). Several mechanisms have been proposed to regulate Clr4/Suv39 activity, but how it is regulated under physiological conditions remains largely unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Rep Methods
July 2025
Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Smart Farming for Agricultural Animals, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, P.R. China; College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricult
We introduce a cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragmentation pattern: the fragment dispersity index (FDI), which integrates information on the distribution of cfDNA fragment ends with the variation in fragment coverage, enabling precise characterization of chromatin accessibility in specific regions. The FDI shows a strong correlation with chromatin accessibility and gene expression, and regions with high FDI are enriched in active regulatory elements. Using whole-genome cfDNA data from five datasets, we developed and validated the FDI-oncology model, which demonstrates robust performance in early cancer diagnosis, subtyping, and prognosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand)
September 2025
Doctorado en Genética Humana, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad de Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentration and integrity index of circulating cell-free DNA (ccf-DNA) as biomarkers for the detection and monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) in pediatric patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Comparison with a validated methodology for the quantification of monoclonal rearrangements of the IGH gene was made. Peripheral blood and bone marrow samples were collected from 10 pediatric patients with B-ALL at diagnosis, remission, and maintenance phases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNAR Genom Bioinform
September 2025
BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China.
Next-generation sequencing has greatly advanced genomics, enabling large-scale studies of population genetics and complex traits. Genomic DNA (gDNA) from white blood cells has traditionally been the main data source, but cell-free DNA (cfDNA), found in bodily fluids as fragmented DNA, is increasingly recognized as a valuable biomarker in clinical and genetic studies. However, a direct comparison between cfDNA and gDNA has not been fully explored.
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