Liquid biopsies

LongevityMaine is excited to offer Galleri’s GRAIL liquid biopsy test, a cutting edge technology to screen for, and potentially diagnose, cancer earlier than what is offered through traditional screening methods. Detecting cancer at an earlier stage is associated with improved survival.

Liquid biopsies work by detecting small amounts of ‘leaked’ tumor DNA (cell-free DNA) circulating in the blood. Using advanced DNA sequencing, patients’ germline DNA (DNA you were born with) is compared to circulating cell-free DNA to check for any mismatches, therefore resulting in a ‘tumor signal.’ If there is a tumor signal detected, the test can also look for DNA alterations (such as methylation) to determine the likely site of cancer origin. 

This test is most valuable in patients at higher risk of cancer either due to age, smoking history, or family history.