Compare related ideas

Choose the question you want to understand, then follow its comparison. These links help you explore terms and methods that are easy to mix up.

When reading a comparison, try its practice question before reading the answer. Explain the distinction in your own words, then check what you missed.

What do samples and measurements show?

Your question	Comparison
Where did a genetic change arise?	germline vs somatic
Which deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) pool is being discussed?	Cell-free DNA vs circulating tumor DNA (cfDNA vs ctDNA)
Which fraction is being reported?	Variant allele fraction vs cancer-cell fraction (VAF vs cancer-cell fraction)
Which residual-disease testing approach is being discussed?	Tumor-informed vs tumor-naive molecular residual disease testing (tumor-informed vs tumor-naive MRD)
Which sequencing scope is being discussed?	Sequencing panel vs whole-exome sequencing vs whole-genome sequencing (panel vs WES vs WGS)
Which molecular measurement view fits the question?	Bulk vs single-cell vs spatial ribonucleic acid measurement (bulk vs single-cell vs spatial)

What is happening in the immune system?

Your question	Comparison
Which T-cell state is being discussed?	anergy vs exhaustion
Where are immune cells in the sample?	hot vs excluded vs cold
Which step of recognition is being measured?	Human leukocyte antigen binding vs presentation vs recognition (HLA binding vs presentation vs recognition)

How do delivery and treatment formats differ?

Your question	Comparison
What does “targeting” refer to?	delivery targeting vs cancer targeting
Which T-cell treatment format is being discussed?	T-cell engager vs chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (TCE vs CAR-T)
Which drug format is being discussed?	Antibody-drug conjugate vs radioligand therapy (ADC vs RLT)
Which receptor-based format is being discussed?	T-cell receptor T-cell therapy vs T-cell receptor engager (TCR-T vs TCR-engager)
How is the vaccine being described?	in situ vs designed vaccine

How do local methods differ?

Your question	Comparison
Which tissue-ablation method is being discussed?	Cryoablation vs radiofrequency ablation vs microwave ablation (cryo vs RFA vs MWA)
Which radiation approach is being discussed?	Stereotactic body radiation therapy vs conventional radiation (SBRT vs conventional radiation)

What do tests, models and outcomes establish?

Your question	Comparison
What question does a biomarker address?	prognostic vs predictive
Which test number answers my question?	Sensitivity vs positive predictive value (sensitivity vs PPV)
Which tumor model is being discussed?	Patient-derived xenograft vs organoid vs ex vivo fragment (PDX vs organoid vs ex vivo fragment)
Which outcome is being measured?	immunogenicity vs efficacy

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