Precision Imaging in Oncology: Bridging the Gap Between Liquid Biopsy and Treatment Monitoring
This Lancet Oncology review examines how advanced imaging technologies complement liquid biopsy and genomic profiling to address limitations in early cancer detection, treatment selection, drug delivery monitoring, and resistance surveillance. The authors discuss practical challenges to clinical adoption and emphasize the need for robust translational infrastructure to integrate precision imaging into routine oncology care.
The original study
Advances and challenges in precision imaging.
- Authors
- Hricak H, Mayerhoefer ME, Herrmann K, Lewis JS, Pomper MG, Hess CP, et al.
- Journal
- The Lancet. Oncology
- Type
- Journal Article, Review
- PMID
- 39756454
Original abstract
Technological innovations in genomics and related fields have facilitated large sequencing efforts, supported new biological discoveries in cancer, and spawned an era of liquid biopsy biomarkers. Despite these advances, precision oncology has practical constraints, partly related to cancer's biological diversity and spatial and temporal complexity. Advanced imaging technologies are being developed to address some of the current limitations in early detection, treatment selection and planning, drug delivery, and therapeutic response, as well as difficulties posed by drug resistance, drug toxicity, disease monitoring, and metastatic evolution. We discuss key areas of advanced imaging for improving cancer outcomes and survival. Finally, we discuss practical challenges to the broader adoption of precision imaging in the clinic and the need for a robust translational infrastructure.