Main description:

This book describes the most important techniques used for studying cfDNA in the different samples; serum, plasma, urine. Chapters detail methods on liquid biopsy for cancer disease, methods in cancer, epigenetic modifications, fetal and pediatric diseases, physical activity, and urinary cell free DNA. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and cutting-edge, Cell-Free DNA as Diagnostic Markers: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

Contents:

Part I: An Overview

1. Cell Free DNA: Applications in Different Diseases

Rossella Ranucci

2. Cell Free DNA: An Overview of Sample Types and Isolation Procedures

Filippo Martignano

Part II: A Liquid Biopsy for Cancer Disease

3. Circulating Cell Free DNA and Cancer Therapy Monitoring: Methods and Potential

Peter B. Gahan

4. Cell Free DNA in the Liquid Biopsy Context: Role and Differences between ctDNA and CTC Marker in Cancer Management

Pietro Fici

Part III: Methods in Cancer

5. Cell Free DNA Integrity: Applications

Sara Ravaioli

6. Copy Number Variation Analysis on Cell Free Serum DNA

Heidi Schwarzenbach

7. Studying Copy Number Variations in Cell Free DNA: The Example of AR in Prostate Cancer

Samanta Salvi and Valentina Casadio

8. dPCR Mutational Analyses in Cell-free DNA: A Comparison With Tissues

Takashi Takeshita and Hirotaka Iwase

9. From cfDNA to Sequencing: Workflows and Potentials

Michela Tebaldi and Samanta Salvi

Part IV: Epigenetic Modifications

10. Epigenetic Characterization of Cell Free DNA

Giorgia Gurioli

11. Quantitative Methylation-specific PCR: A Simple Method for Studying Epigenetic Modifications of Cell Free DNA

Luca Sigalotti, Alessia Covre, Francesca Colizzi, and Elisabetta Fratta

Part V: Fetal and Pediatric Diseases

12. Cell Free DNA in Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma: Potential and Challenges

Lucia Tombolan, Angelica Zin, and Gianni Bisogno

13. Bioinformatics Pipeline for Accurate Quantification of Fetal DNA Fraction in Maternal Plasma

Meng Ni, Xianlu Laura Peng, and Peiyong Jiang

Part VI: Physical Activity

14. Circulating Cell-Free DNA in Physical Activities

LN Vittori, A. Tarozzi, and P. Maietta Latessa

Part VII: Urinary Cell Free DNA

15. Urinary Cell Free DNA: Potential and Applications

Samanta Salvi and Valentina Casadio

16. Urinary Cell Free DNA: Isolation, Quantification, Quality Assessment

Valentina Casadio and Samanta Salvi