Circulating cell-free nucleic acids are defined as extracellular DNAs or RNAs in blood with physiological or pathological origins. Previous studies showed that the concentration of cell-free nucleic acids in the blood of cancer patients is significantly higher than in healthy people. Further studies showed that the genetic and epigenetic alterations of circulating cell-free nucleic acids are relevant to cancer development and progression
including mutation
hypermethylation
loss of heterozygosity
change of integrity
and abnormal expression of microRNAs. Detection of circulating cell-free nucleic acids shows promising potential in cancer screening