Circulating tumor DNA ; Next-generation sequencing ; Cell-free DNA ; Liquid biopsy
Abstract
This guideline is a translation of a guideline published in Annals of Laboratory Medicine (2024;44:195-209) for the convenience of Korean readers. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a promising tool for various clinical applications, including early diagnosis, therapeutic target identification, treatment response monitoring, prognosis evaluation, and minimal residual disease detection. Consequently, ctDNA assays have been incorporated into clinical practice. In this review, we offer an in-depth exploration of the clinical implementation of ctDNA assays. Notably, we examined existing evidence related to pre-analytical procedures, analytical components in current technologies, and result interpretation and reporting processes. The primary objective of this guideline is to provide recommendations for the clinical utilization of ctDNA assays.