Precompetitive Collaboration on Liquid Biopsy for Early Cancer Assessment: Data Management and Coordinating Unit

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PROJECT SUMMARY Liquid biopsy is a clinical test that involves the analysis of various biomarkers present in the blood or other types of body fluids. It enables the detection of cancer at an earlier stage than traditional imaging or tissue biopsy methods, and thus can lead to reduction of cancer mobility and mortality. As one of the most promising solutions for cancer early detection, liquid biopsy has the potential to revolutionize cancer diagnosis, providing patients with more effective and less invasive care. The liquid biopsy analytes include circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA, which is part of cell-free DNA (cfDNA), extracellular vesicles, as well other tumor associated RNAs, proteins and metabolites. These analytes typically have very low levels in blood or other types of body fluid of early-stage cancer patients, leading to difficulties in obtaining reproducible results and low sensitivity and specificity for cancer early detection. While many new assays and techniques have been developed to tackle these challenges, validation of these assays/techniques in different populations and/or cancer types poses many challenges, and these are the main areas of research supported by the liquid biopsy consortium (LBC). As Data Management and Coordinating Unit (DMCU) of LBC, we will support state- of-the-art statistical methods for study design and data analysis, the coordination, implementation, and conduct of collaborative studies across the consortium and work closely with LBC investigators on data analysis by statistical methods, machine Learning modeling and Artificial Intelligence. We will also support consortium coordination and data management, including identification and adoption of standard data elements for liquid biopsy studies. We seek to establish the DMCU as a leading center for innovation and resources in liquid biopsy research, and to enhance, improve and maintain LBC network integration and coordination.