The clinical value of plasma cell-free DNA

As a new noninvasive molecular biomarker, plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has potential value in early diagnosis, prognosis evaluation, therapeutic monitoring. Now lots of methods can be used to detect cfDNA including SSCP-PCR, RFLP-PCR, sequencing, and digital PCR. Different methods could be applied in screening of unknown mutations, analysis of genetic polymorphism, and anlysis of specific mutations. cfDNA can be applied in early screening and evaluation in cancers, prenatal test, cardiovascular diseases, and transplantation. This manuscript reviewed the detective value of cfDNA on different diseases. Key words: Cell-free nucleic acids; Molecular diagnostic techniques; Biomarkers