Liquid Biopsies for Oncology to Gain Clinical Momentum in 2015 Liquid biopsy technology holds enormous potential to transform the medical management of oncology patients by providing noninvasive, real-time insights of disease status. Also known as a “molecular stethoscope,” liquid biopsies are integral to personalizing cancer care. 2015 is predicted to be the year when liquid biopsy tests become commercially available and gain traction in clinical oncology care. “The applicability of a non-invasive cancer diagnostic and monitoring tool is immense,” writes Doug Schenkel, managing director of the medical technology research group at Cowen and Company, in the equity research note Ahead of the Curve Series, published in November 2014. “Although the current field is somewhat nascent, liquid biopsies have a multi-billion dollar market potential that could eventually exceed $10 billion.” Liquid biopsy technology is expected to ultimately permeate the entire continuum of cancer care – from early detection, treatment selection and treatment monitoring through recurrence surveillance. (Though there is scientific evidence the technology is applicable to other clinical areas including transplant monitoring, the most meaningful initial adoption is expected in oncology care.) Early forays into personalized cancer care focus on tailoring treatment based on the molecular makeup of tumors. But, this […]