Personalized cancer medicine guided by liquid biopsies

The capacity to optimally treat cancer patients is nowadays challenged by several factors. These challenges are particularly caused by tumor heterogeneity and plasticity, causing tumor characteristics to change over time and under treatment pressure. The use of liquid biopsies sampled from the blood of patients with cancer is a promising way to evaluate tumor characteristics and response to therapy repeatedly during therapy. In the long run, the availability of these sort of biomarkers which can tailor the right therapeutic strategy, for the right person, at the right time, is where we can use knowledge on the biology of cancer to treat cancer in the most optimal fashion.

This thesis has focused on several technical and clinical aspects of liquid biopsies, all with the ultimate aim to allow personalized medicine based on these liquid biopsies.