Clinical utility and real-life feasibility of liquid biopsy in the therapeutic management of colorectal cancer patients

This PhD thesis focuses on the current and future applications of liquid biopsy, from early-stage to metastatic colorectal cancer, through the main studies conducted or ongoing during these three years. In particular, it addresses the role of minimal residual disease in guiding adjuvant/post adjuvant treatment intensification and in improving the selection of patients with liver-limited disease who may benefit from radical surgery. Finally, we applied liquid biopsy to assess molecular hyperselection of patients eligible for first-line anti-EGFR treatment, together with and compared to tissue-based molecular analysis, as well as its use in selecting patients for anti-EGFR rechallenge in later treatment lines.