Advances in cancer detection have historically lagged behind the development of new cancer treatments. Liquid biopsy is poised to change this. The development of blood-based cancer detection assays in the past several years has led to numerous high-profile studies and hundreds of thousands of individuals enrolled in clinical trials.

Any cancer diagnosis is devastating, but the discovery of a brain tumor comes with a unique set of challenges for both patient and doctor. In this article, we discuss the potential role of liquid biopsy for management of brain cancer, current research in this space, and remaining questions in the field.