Physician Ash Alizadeh has seen the future of disease diagnosis and monitoring. It is coursing through every patient’s veins. Traditionally, biopsies have required invasively gathering tissue – from a lung, a liver, or a fetus. Now it’s possible to look for disease without surgery. The DNA is sitting there in the bloodstream, Alizadeh tells host Russ Altman, as they preview the age of liquid biopsies on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your quest. You can send questions to thefutureofeverything@stanford.edu.Episode Reference Links:Stanford Profile: Ash A. Alizadeh, MD/PhDConnect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionRuss Altman introduces guest Ash Alizadeh, a faculty member at Stanford University in Oncology and Medicine.(00:03:39) What is a Liquid Biopsy?Accessing tissues non-invasively using bodily fluids.(00:04:31) Detecting Cancer with Liquid BiopsiesHow localized cancers can be detected through blood samples.(00:06:32) The Science Behind Cancer DNA DetectionThe differences between normal and cancer DNA(00:09:51) How Liquid Biopsy Technology WorksThe technologies behind detecting cancer-related DNA differences.(00:12:36) Advances in Liquid BiopsyNew detection approaches using non-mutant molecules and RNA.(00:14:10) RNA as a Real-Time Tumor MarkerHow RNA reveals active tumor processes and drug resistance.(00:15:55) Tracking Cancer ReccurenceUsing tumor-informed panels to monitor cancer recurrence.(00:16:28)  Adapting to Tumor EvolutionWhy core mutations remain detectable despite cancer changes.(00:17:57) Stability of DNA, RNA, and MethylationComparing durability and reliability of different biomarkers.(00:20:49) Listener Question: Early Cancer DetectionDaniel Kim asks about pre-cancer detection and its potential impact.(00:24:44) Liquid Biopsy in ImmunotherapyUsing liquid biopsy to track and improve immune-based treatments.(00:27:35) Monitoring CAR T-Cell TherapyHow liquid biopsy helps assess immune cell expansion.(00:32:02) EPIC-Seq: Inferring RNA from DNAUsing DNA fragmentation to predict gene expression in tumors.(00:34:49) Targeting Tumor Support SystemsTreatment strategies disrupting the tumor microenvironment.(00:35:52) Conclusion Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.