Application of cfDNA methylation in cancer prognostic assessment: Progress and challenges (Review)

Cancer prognostic assessment constitutes an essential component of cancer treatment and management. It encompasses the prediction of patients' disease progression, treatment effect and survival. Circulating free DNA (cfDNA) refers to highly fragmented DNA that exists extracellularly in the human bloodstream. Its methylation status is not only a reliable indicator for the prognosis of cancer, but also a highly accurate predictor of the prognosis of cancer. As an emerging non‑invasive biomarker, cfDNA has demonstrated considerable potential in cancer prognostic assessment in recent years. The present review provided a comprehensive review of the promising applications of cfDNA methylation in cancer prognostic assessment, while also discussing the challenges that must be addressed to fully realize its clinical potential. As technology advances and research deepens, cfDNA methylation is expected to play an increasingly pivotal role in the field of cancer precision medicine.