Liquid biopsy in Oncology: Results of a Delphi consensus study endorsed by the AIOM-SIAPEC/IAP-SIBioC-SIF Italian scientific societies
Liquid biopsy (LB) offers a minimally invasive alternative to tissue biopsy by detecting tumor-derived analytes in biological fluids. Nonetheless, its adoption is limited by variability in methodologies. Therefore, this study used a modified RAND/UCLA approach involving 23 experts of the field, providing two questionnaires that assessed agreement on 22 items. Consensus was reached for all the pre- and post-analytical phase items, agreeing on the pivotal role of plasma cfDNA. Conversely, opinions varied regarding other biomarkers and biological samples. Furthermore, turnaround time and disease setting resulted as two of the most important analytical parameters for choosing testing methodology. Particularly, a complementary tissue-liquid approach with sampling interval ≤2 weeks was preferred. To conclude, a strong consensus on sample handling, biomarker prioritization, and clinical applications is achieved. However, significant heterogeneity remains regarding novel biomarkers, sampling strategies, and costs. Standardization and validation are needed to enhance the clinical adoption of LB.
Authors
- Andrea Bianchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6046-4355)
- Massimo Di Maïo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8906-3785)
- Tancredi Didier Bazan Russo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5595-3924)
- Rossana Berardi
- Valerio Gristina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2392-0470)
- Stefania Gori
- Marzia Del Re (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7343-6161)
- Giuseppe Giuffrè (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3635-6992)
- Matteo Fassan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6515-5482)
- Lorena Incorvaia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1199-7286)
- A. Russo
- P. Tagliaferri
- Romano Danesi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4414-8934)
- Daniele Santini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9118-3337)
- Nicola Normanno
- Antonio Marchetti
- Umberto Malapelle
- Giordano Domenico Beretta
- Marcello Ciaccio
- Antonio Galvano
- Christian Rolfo
- Ettore Domenico Capoluongo
- Giancarlo Troncone
- Francesco Perrone
- Nicola Silvestris
- Carmine Pinto
- Giovanni Maria Iannantuono
- Gennaro Daniele
Institutions
- University of Messina (IT)
- Marche Polytechnic University (IT)
- University of Padua (IT)
- University of Milan (IT)
- Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni Addolorata (IT)
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (US)
- Policlinico Umberto I (IT)
- Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic (IT)
- Magna Graecia University (IT)
- University of Chieti-Pescara (IT)
- Azienda Ospedaliera Citta' della Salute e della Scienza di Torino (IT)
- Azienda Sanitaria Unità Locale di Reggio Emilia (IT)
- Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda (IT)
- Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences (IT)
- Fondazione Ricerca Molinette (IT)
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IT)
- Ospedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria (IT)
- Istituto Oncologico Veneto (IT)
- Federico II University Hospital (IT)
- Istituto Tumori Bari (IT)
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale" (IT)
- Azienda USL di Pescara (IT)
- Ospedale SS. Annunziata (IT)
- Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IT)
- Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
- University of Palermo (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Journal of Liquid Biopsy
- Published
- 2025-12-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlb.2025.100453
- Primary Topic
- Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Associazione Italiana di Oncologia Medica
- Università degli Studi di Palermo