Electrochemical liquid biopsy across cancer care pathway

Liquid biopsy has emerged as a powerful approach for tracking tumor dynamics through circulating biomarkers such as cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), extracellular vesicles (EVs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and soluble proteins. Unlike tissue biopsy, which captures only a single tumor region at one moment, liquid biopsy enables repeated, minimally invasive sampling that reflects the molecular state of disease across all lesions. However, current detection methods based on next-generation sequencing and digital PCR require centralized laboratories, specialized personnel, and turnaround times of days to weeks. Electrochemical biosensors offer a fundamentally different path: compact, low-cost platforms that convert biorecognition events into electrical signals within minutes. This review examines the major electrochemical transduction modes and their compatibility with circulating biomarker classes, maps existing sensor platforms to the phases of cancer care from early detection through treatment monitoring and recurrence surveillance, and addresses the practical requirements for clinical implementation. Despite impressive analytical performance under controlled conditions, most electrochemical sensors have not progressed beyond proof-of-concept. Bridging this translational gap will require robust function in complex biological matrices, rigorous analytical and clinical validation, regulatory approval, and reproducible manufacturing. Meeting these challenges could position electrochemical biosensing as an accessible complement to existing molecular diagnostics in oncology.