Liquid Biopsy in Uterine Leiomyosarcoma: Current Biomarkers, Emerging Technologies, and Future Perspectives
Uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) is a rare but aggressive malignant mesenchymal tumor, accounting for 2-5% of uterine malignancies. Because its symptoms and imaging features often resemble those of benign uterine leiomyoma (LM), accurate preoperative diagnosis remain difficult. This review summarizes recent advances in liquid biopsy for uLMS and explores its potential for early detection, molecular characterization, and treatment monitoring. Liquid biopsy enables minimally invasive detection of tumor-derived components such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), non-coding RNAs, and extracellular vesicles (EVs). Recurrent mutations in TP53, RB1, and ATRX have been identified through ctDNA analysis, while CTCs, ncRNAs, and EVs provide complementary information for monitoring tumor dynamics and therapeutic response. Emerging technologies including CRISPR-Cas systems, nanotechnology, electrochemical biosensors, and multi-omics integration enhance detection sensitivity and specificity. Liquid biopsy holds promise for improving uLMS diagnosis and management. However, standardization and biomarker validation remain essential to achieve reliable clinical translation and enable earlier, more precise treatment strategies.