biostudies-literatureFernandez-Garcia DCancer Research UKPancreatic Cancer UK149https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6924016biostudies-literatureUnknown21(1)<h4>Background</h4>Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women, and despite the introduction of new screening programmes, therapies and monitoring technologies, there is still a need to develop more useful tests for monitoring treatment response and to inform clinical decision making. The purpose of this study was to compare circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumour cells (CTCs) with conventional breast cancer blood biomarkers (CA15-3 and alkaline phosphatase (AP)) as predictors of response to treatment and prognosis in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).<h4>Methods</h4>One hundred ninety-four female patients with radiologically confirmed MBC were recruited to the study. Total cfDNA levels were determined by qPCR and compared with CELLSEARCH® CTC counts aBreast cancer research : BCRPlasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) as a predictive and prognostic marker in patients with metastatic breast cancer.PMC6924016187841346220276C14315/A134622013 RIF - Shaw23464C14315/A23464Hills AHastings RKGleason KToghill BGuttery DSCoombes RCShaw JAOgle OPage KBoydell ARRutherford MLim AIon CGoddard KSFernandez-Garcia DfalsePlasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) as a predictive and prognostic marker in patients with metastatic breast cancer.<h4>Background</h4>Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women, and despite the introduction of new screening programmes, therapies and monitoring technologies, there is still a need to develop more useful tests for monitoring treatment response and to inform clinical decision making. The purpose of this study was to compare circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumour cells (CTCs) with conventional breast cancer blood biomarkers (CA15-3 and alkaline phosphatase (AP)) as predictors of response to treatment and prognosis in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).<h4>Methods</h4>One hundred ninety-four female patients with radiologically confirmed MBC were recruited to the study. Total cfDNA levels were determined by qPCR and compared with CELLSEARCH® CTC counts a2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Dec2026-06-12T03:17:18.718Z2020-05-22T01:04:32ZS-EPMC69240163185686810.1186/s13058-019-1235-8