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Portrait of Professor Paul Hofman, Director of RespirERA Institute and Guest Editor of a Special Topic on liquid biopsy in lung cancer

Professor Paul Hofman, appointed Guest Editor of a Special Topic on liquid biopsy

Professor Paul Hofman, Director of RespirERA Institute, is the Guest Editor of a Special Topic published by Cancer Drug Resistance. Focusing on the use of liquid biopsy to monitor treatment response and resistance mechanisms in lung cancer, the Special Topic is open for scientific submissions until 30 June 2027.

Monitoring disease evolution during treatment

Entitled Liquid Biopsy in Lung Cancer: Monitoring Response and Resistance, the Special Topic focuses on applications of liquid biopsy in lung cancer, particularly non-small cell lung cancer.

Liquid biopsy involves searching for tumour-derived material in a biological sample, most commonly blood. It can be used to analyse circulating tumour DNA, or ctDNA, which consists of small fragments of DNA released by tumour cells into the bloodstream.

This approach already plays a role in identifying the molecular characteristics of a tumour. Current research is also exploring its potential to monitor treatment response over time and track how the disease evolves under therapeutic pressure.

Understanding the emergence of resistance

During treatment, some tumour cell populations may evolve and acquire resistance mechanisms. Repeated analysis of circulating tumour DNA can help researchers study these changes, including the appearance of new molecular alterations or variations in their frequency.

The Special Topic will also address minimal residual disease, commonly referred to as MRD. This term describes traces of tumour material that remain after treatment at levels that may not be detected by conventional methods.

The use of these analyses to identify early molecular progression or guide treatment adjustments is still under investigation. Their integration into clinical practice remains inconsistent. Important challenges include assay standardisation, the timing of sample collection, the interpretation of very low ctDNA signals and the absence of universally accepted thresholds for modifying treatment.

Contributions on methods and clinical implementation

The Special Topic will welcome research on ctDNA-guided monitoring of treatment response, resistance mechanisms revealed by liquid biopsy and minimal residual disease in thoracic malignancies.

Submissions may also address resistance to immunotherapy, multi-omics approaches, DNA fragment and methylation analysis, and other circulating components such as circulating tumour cells and extracellular vesicles.

Particular attention will be given to the conditions required to integrate these tools into clinical decision-making while taking account of methodological limitations and the biological complexity of resistance mechanisms.

Submissions open until 30 June 2027

Professor Paul Hofman, Director of RespirERA Institute, is serving as Guest Editor of this Special Topic published by Cancer Drug Resistance.

This editorial responsibility is consistent with the Institute’s research on lung cancer, biomarkers and the evolution of respiratory diseases. It also contributes to connecting methodological research with the questions arising during treatment monitoring.

Researchers wishing to submit an article can find the practical information below: