Int J Cancer. 2025 Sep 03.
Viral infections play a significant role in cancer development, making detecting viral signatures a promising approach for early cancer diagnosis. Circulating free DNA (cfDNA), released into the bloodstream by tumors and other cells, has emerged as a powerful biomarker for non-invasive cancer screening. This review explores the potential of cfDNA in detecting virus-associated cancers through the analysis of viral footprints. It provides a comprehensive overview of the biological mechanisms underlying cfDNA release, the role of oncogenic viruses in cancer progression, and the unique viral markers that can be traced within cfDNA. By leveraging viral genetic material, cfDNA analysis offers transformative potential for the early detection of virus-driven malignancies. Highlighting its clinical relevance, this review discusses how cfDNA-based viral biomarker screening could significantly enhance cancer monitoring, improve prognosis accuracy, and pave the way for innovative, non-invasive diagnostic tools and personalized cancer management strategies.
Keywords: circulating free DNA (cfDNA); early cancer detection; liquid biopsy; oncogenic viruses; virus‐associated cancers