The detection of circulating cell-free nucleic acids (cfNAs) in plasma either in the form of DNA or RNA yields serious potential for clinical purposes in patients affected by cancer. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), namely the fraction of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in neoplastic patients derived from apoptosis and necrosis of tumor cells, or from processes of active release from neoplastic cells or extracellular vesicles, represents one of the most promising biomarkers, with serious potential for effective transition into clinical practice [5]. Other types of cfNAs include RNA-based biomarkers such as microRNA (miRNA) and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) [1]. As access to body fluids is less invasive, easier, faster and cheaper than performing a tissue/tumor biopsy, the analysis of circulating biomarkers obtained through liquid biopsies is gaining consideration for an effective transition to clinical practice. [3]

An effective implementation of current workflows for cancer diagnosis and characterization by the assessment of cfNAs in the panorama of liquid biopsies would imply substantial progress toward a minimally invasive and personalized monitoring of neoplastic patients, possibly capturing the complex heterogeneity of the cancer mutational and transcriptional profile, without performing invasive procedures such as traditional tissue biopsies. [3]

In recent years, many laboratories have been implementing the use of magnetic beads-based extraction, for both its cost-effectiveness and rapidity of execution. [3]