ctDNA (circulating tumor DNA) are small fragments of genetic material (DNA) released into the bloodstream by cancer cells. All cells in the body shed bits of DNA when they die, but ctDNA comes specifically from tumor cells. Because these DNA fragments carry the same genetic changes as the tumor, they can be analyzed to learn …
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A liquid biopsy is a medical test that detects signs of disease, such as cancer, in a sample of body fluid—most often blood. Unlike a traditional biopsy, which involves removing a small tissue sample with a needle or during surgery, a liquid biopsy is minimally invasive and can be done with a simple blood draw. …
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Polymerase chain reaction (commonly called PCR) is a laboratory technique used to produce millions of copies of a specific DNA segment. This process allows doctors to detect even very small amounts of genetic material in a sample. PCR is widely used in medicine, including in pathology, to diagnose infections, identify cancer-related mutations, and help guide …
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JAK2 (Janus kinase 2) is a gene that provides instructions for making a protein involved in how cells grow, divide, and respond to signals from the immune system. JAK2 is part of a family of related genes that also includes JAK1, JAK3, and TYK2. These genes all produce proteins that help cells communicate using a …
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In a molecular pathology report, the word rearrangement refers to a change in the DNA structure within a cell. DNA is usually organized into long strands called chromosomes, each containing many genes. A rearrangement happens when a piece of a chromosome breaks off and attaches somewhere else, either on the same chromosome or another chromosome. …
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In situ hybridization (often abbreviated as ISH) is a specialized laboratory test that enables pathologists to detect specific pieces of genetic material (DNA or RNA) directly within the cells of a tissue sample. The phrase “in situ” means “in its original place,” and “hybridization” refers to the way a probe (a small piece of complementary …
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