Work

Perspectives in educating molecular pathologists on liquid biopsy: Toward integrative, equitable, and decentralized precision oncology

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Liquid biopsy has transformed molecular oncology by enabling noninvasive, real-time monitoring of cancer progression, treatment responses, and detection of minimal residual disease. Despite technological advances, educational gaps, regarding standardized, comprehensive training for molecular pathologists, remain. To address these, a new educational program, the European Masters in Molecular Pathology (EMMP) developed a dedicated educational module aimed at providing pathologists with specialized competencies in liquid biopsy. In this perspective, we discuss how embedding liquid biopsy training within the integrative pathology framework, linking molecular diagnostics, histopathological findings, and clinical context, enhances diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic decision-making in the clinic. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of decentralizing liquid biopsy expertise to local pathology units, reducing dependency on external commercial platforms, ensuring data sovereignty, and enabling rapid, cost-effective diagnostics. Finally, integrating health policy and ethical considerations within liquid biopsy education prepares future molecular pathologists to engage meaningfully in shaping policy frameworks that support equitable and sustainable clinical implementation of precision oncology. In summary, we propose the EMMP module as a comprehensive educational strategy for training molecular pathologists in the latest liquid biopsy technologies and advancements.

Source: Molecular Oncology

DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.70163