Additional Information
Level of Instruction: Beginner
Intended Audience: Medical laboratory scientists and technicians. This course is also appropriate for medical laboratory science students and pathology residents.
Author Information: David J. Moffa, PhD, BCLD has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry as an executive manager, clinical laboratory director, and medical laboratory scientist. He is currently a technical consultant for Kentmere Healthcare, Wilmington, DE, and until his retirement, was the Regional Director for LabCorp, Inc. He holds a PhD in medical biochemistry from the School of Medicine at West Virginia University.
Reviewer Information: Laurie Bjerklie, MA, MLS(ASCP)CM is
currently an Education Developer for MediaLab and LabCE. She earned a B.S. in
Medical Laboratory Science from the University of North Dakota and an M.A. in
Curriculum and Instruction from Saint Xavier University. She has over 15 years
of experience in higher education and has held program director and faculty
positions in both MLT and MLS programs.
Course Description: Liquid biopsy is a rapidly advancing field with a growing number of companies involved in the development of these assays for the diagnosis and stratification of cancer patients. Because liquid biopsy can potentially provide a comprehensive, real-time assessment of the whole tumor burden for an individual patient, many experts believe it has the potential to replace the standard tissue biopsy. This course will discuss the primary molecular biomarkers detected in blood via liquid biopsy assay, including circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and exosomes.