Researchers conducted a systematic review on the feasibility of using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a biomarker in the immediate postoperative period. Eight cohort studies across six different cancer types showed that patients with detectable ctDNA after surgery had an increased risk of cancer recurrence. This suggests that early postoperative time points could be used to determine minimal residual disease. However, further studies are needed to understand the kinetics of ctDNA clearance in different cancer types and determine optimal postoperative time points.
Review by Efthymiou V, Queenan N (…) Faden DL et 3 al. in Ann Surg Oncol
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