Research progress in the correlation between ctDNA and hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high degree of heterogeneity, which makes early diagnosis difficult and carries high recurrence rate and poor clinical prognosis. HCC mostly occurs once progressed to liver cirrhosis. Percutaneous liver biopsy is associated with high risk and cannot be carried out routinely in the clinical practice. Efficient biomarkers are urgently needed in clinical diagnosis and treatment. ctDNA is a DNA fragment that exists in the peripheral blood of cancer patients and carries the genetic information of cancer. Quantitative and qualitative detection of ctDNA can accurately characterize and understand the biological characteristics of tumors in real-time. It can be used in cancer diagnosis, drug treatment, evaluation of treatment response, recurrence monitoring and in prognostication. ctDNA has important value in precise medical treatment of tumors. The clinical correlation between ctDNA and HCC has attracted wide attention. It is hoped that ctDNA can replace liver biopsy and serve as a specific and sensitive blood test index for HCC. This article will briefly introduce ctDNA and elaborate on its potential application value in the diagnosis, medication guidance, and prognosis of HCC. Key words: ctDNA; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Serum markers; Gene