New ‘nanopores’ technique offers proof-of-concept of
earlier, safer tumor detection

In recent years, a non-invasive biopsy method called
liquid biopsy has shown promise as a potential alternative to
tissue biopsy, currently the gold standard in cancer detection and
diagnosis. A tissue biopsy sample—traditionally collected through a
surgical procedure that may require general anesthesia, accompanied
by the risk of complications that may occur from any surgery, from
pain through to infection and pneumonia—is typically tested for
specific genetic variations, also referred to as mutations, which
may offer information on a clear optimal treatment for that
cancer.