Abstract A029: PATIENT AND FAMILY-INFORMED PERSPECTIVES ON THE CLINICAL INTEGRATIONS OF LIQUID BIOPSY TECHNOLOGIES IN PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY

Abstract

Liquid biopsy approaches, including circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis, are increasingly used in oncology for non-invasive disease monitoring and response assessment. While significant advances have been made in assay sensitivity and clinical validation, patient and family perspectives in pediatric oncology remain underrepresented, which may influence clinical implementation and real-world utility. This translational perspective analysis integrates clinical experience as a pediatric oncology nurse with lived experience as a parent of a child treated for Stage IV hepatoblastoma, alongside a review of emerging pediatric liquid biopsy literature. The analysis focuses on clinical applicability, patient-centered outcomes, and implementation considerations for ctDNA-based monitoring in pediatric oncology. Findings highlight three key areas relevant to clinical translation. First, liquid biopsy technologies may reduce reliance on invasive tissue sampling and improve the feasibility of longitudinal disease monitoring in children. Second, effective implementation requires structured frameworks for interpretation and communication of ctDNA results to ensure clarity for both clinicians and families. Third, incorporation of patient-reported outcomes and family experience data may enhance the clinical relevance and adoption of liquid biopsy approaches in pediatric oncology practice. These findings suggest that while liquid biopsy technologies are rapidly advancing, their impact in pediatric oncology depends on successful integration into patient-centered care pathways. Embedding patient, parent, and nursing perspectives within translational research frameworks may improve implementation, clinical utility, and family-centered outcomes. Use of generative artificial intelligence assisted in refining language clarity and structure of this abstract. The authors are fully responsible for the accuracy and integrity of the content.