The advancement of liquid biopsy techniques in complementing tissue genotyping for comprehensive molecular profiling in cancer treatment

Tissue biopsy means taking a small piece of a tumor, usually by surgery or using a needle, to study it at the molecular level. This method uses next-generation sequencing (NGS) to find genetic changes like mutations and gene fusions in cancer cells. Examining tumor DNA helps doctors pick treatments that target those specific changes in the cancer.

But tissue biopsy has some drawbacks. It needs an invasive procedure that can be risky or hard depending on where the tumor is. Also, tissue samples only show one part of the tumor, so they might miss differences within the tumor since tumors can be uneven inside. It can also take a long time to get and test the sample, delaying treatment for the patient.

These issues show the need for other tests that are less invasive and faster while providing detailed molecular information.

Liquid Biopsy: Emerging as a Complementary Tool

Liquid biopsy is a newer method that tests materials from the tumor found in blood plasma. These materials include circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and cell-free RNA (cfRNA) released by tumors into the blood. Unlike tissue biopsy, liquid biopsy needs only a blood draw, so it is less invasive and safer for patients.

Liquid biopsy helps tissue genotyping in many ways:

• Minimally Invasive and Quick Sample Collection: Blood draws are easier on patients and can be done many times.
• Faster Turnaround Time (TAT): Research shows liquid biopsy results come back much faster than tissue biopsies. For example, a study with 170 patients showed liquid biopsy results in about 9.6 days, while tissue biopsy took 36.4 days. Faster results let doctors start targeted treatments sooner and reduce the risk of the disease getting worse.
• Higher Testing Success Rate: Liquid biopsy is not limited by how easy it is to reach the tumor or the size of the tissue sample. It offers an option when tissue is hard to get or not enough for testing.
• Capturing Tumor Heterogeneity: Since ctDNA comes from many tumor spots, liquid biopsy can give a broader look at tumor differences. This helps doctors choose better treatments as the disease changes.
• Real-Time Monitoring: Because it is less invasive, doctors can repeat liquid biopsies to watch how the tumor changes, whether resistance is forming, and how treatments are working.

Clinical Utility of Liquid Biopsy in NSCLC and Beyond

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the main type of cancer where liquid biopsy has been studied a lot. Research shows that doctors used liquid biopsy results to decide front-line treatments in 73.5% of cases, while tissue biopsy data was used in only 25.9%. Tests for important biomarkers matched between liquid and tissue biopsy from 94.8% to 100% of the time. This shows liquid biopsy is a reliable alternative or addition to tissue genotyping to find treatable mutations.

Also, a liquid-first testing method found actionable biomarkers in 76.5% of patients versus 54.9% with tissue-first testing. This means using liquid biopsy can help more patients get targeted therapies and qualify for clinical trials.

Organizations like the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) now include liquid biopsy as part of the recommended testing for NSCLC. Liquid biopsy is also being used more with other solid tumors to guide treatments based on molecular profiles.

Technical Challenges and Ongoing Improvements

Despite its benefits, liquid biopsy has some challenges. It relies on enough tumor DNA entering the blood, which may be low in some tumors, like slow-growing ones or cancers in the brain. This can cause false-negative results. Another issue is clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), where mutations from blood cells can appear and confuse results.

Test accuracy can differ, so there is a need to standardize methods across labs and patient groups. The cost is also being studied, with hopes that falling prices for sequencing will make it easier to use.

Research and technology efforts are ongoing to solve these problems. Better bioinformatics, sequencing tools, and sample methods are improving test quality and consistency.

Data Scale and Partnerships Supporting Molecular Profiling Innovation

Companies like Tempus show how big data and AI platforms improve cancer care. Tempus connects about 65% of US Academic Medical Centers and more than half of US oncologists with its precision medicine platform. This system combines clinical and molecular data to help doctors and researchers.

Tempus manages a lot of data—about 350 petabytes—including over 8 million anonymous research records. This huge data helps create algorithms that find targeted treatments, predict how well treatments will work, and match patients to clinical trials.

Partnerships between hospitals, research centers, and AI companies make it easier to offer complete molecular profiling using both tissue and liquid biopsies. Tools like Tempus One, an AI clinical assistant inside electronic health records (EHR), improve workflows and decision-making. This reduces some administrative work for healthcare staff.

The Role of AI and Workflow Automation in Enhancing Molecular Profiling

Good molecular profiling needs advanced data analysis and smooth clinical processes. Artificial intelligence (AI) is growing in use by automating data handling, pattern recognition, and treatment ideas.

AI looks at large sets of genetic and clinical data to find important mutations and suggest personalized treatments. For example, Tempus One helps doctors use EHR data easily and build custom workflows to save time.

Automation can also track sample status, give priority to urgent cases, and alert staff about missing or incorrect data without manual checking. This reduces delays common in molecular testing.

Simbo AI is an example of a company that uses AI for phone automation in clinical settings. Its system manages patient calls, schedules appointments, and answers routine questions using natural language processing. This lets medical staff spend more time on patient care instead of administrative tasks.

Together, AI tools and workflow automation make cancer centers work more smoothly and deliver better care.

Implications for Medical Practice Administrators, Owners, and IT Managers

Healthcare leaders should think about adding liquid biopsy to their cancer molecular profiling programs. Some key points include:

• Expanding Testing Options: Liquid biopsy provides a less invasive choice when tissue is hard to get. Using both tests allows more complete diagnosis and helps more patients get targeted treatments.
• Reducing Time to Treatment: Faster liquid biopsy results can cut delays in deciding therapy and improve patient outcomes and clinic efficiency.
• Data Integration and Management: IT teams must make sure molecular data, including liquid biopsy results, connects well with EHR systems. AI platforms can help organize data and support decisions.
• Supporting Workflow Automation: Using AI-driven molecular tests together with automated patient communication reduces work for staff and improves patient experiences.
• Cost and Resource Allocation: Working with companies like Tempus or Simbo AI can improve precision medicine while making good use of staff and resources.

In the US, many Academic Medical Centers and oncologists already use AI platforms. Practices that add liquid biopsy and AI tools will likely keep up with advances and improve cancer care.

Summary

Combining liquid biopsy with traditional tissue genotyping has made cancer molecular profiling more complete and faster. For NSCLC and other cancers, liquid biopsy gives less invasive, quicker, and often more detailed genetic data that complements tissue analysis. With high agreement to tissue tests, shorter turnaround times, and the ability to monitor tumors in real time, liquid biopsy is an important tool.

New AI and automation technologies also improve how molecular profiling works, helping doctors handle more complex data efficiently. Companies like Tempus show how integrated data and AI support personalized cancer treatment.

For healthcare administrators, owners, and IT managers in the United States, using liquid biopsy as part of a full molecular profiling program with AI support can help improve patient care, make operations smoother, and stay up to date with current cancer treatment methods.