circulating tumor DNA

“ctDNA clearance is useful for seeing potential benefit in novel therapeutic studies." Emerik Osterlund, MD, PhD New data from MD Anderson Cancer Center's INTERCEPT Program, presented at ESMO Congress 2025, show that adjuvant therapy can clear ctDNA in a portion of CRC patients, leading to significantly better disease-free survival (DFS). Key Findings: 🔹 26% of ctDNA-positive patients achieved clearance after adjuvant therapy 🔹 Clearance on ≥2 tests correlated with superior DFS 🔹 Spontaneous ctDNA clearance was rare and short-lived These results support ctDNA clearance as a valuable endpoint for evaluating new CRC treatments and monitoring minimal residual disease. [...]

This summer’s ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress spotlighted groundbreaking research on ctDNA, reinforcing utility in colorectal cancer care.  Across multiple studies, ctDNA emerged as a powerful tool for surveillance, treatment guidance, and recurrence prediction. GALAXY & BESPOKE-CRC: ctDNA status during routine follow-up can better identify CRC patients who are candidates for metastasis-directed therapy (MDT).  ctDNA positive patients had up to 20 times higher likelihood of receiving MDT compared to ctDNA negative patients. ALTAIR Trial: Lonsurf has the potential to treat MRD in CRC patients. Even though statistical significance was not reached, ctDNA clearance was higher in patients who received Lonsurf compared [...]

Dr. Bishal Gyamali discusses results from the AGITG dynamic-III trial presented during the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.  This was a randomized trial studying ctDNA-guided adjuvant chemotherapy escalation in stage III colon cancer. Link to ecancer discussion Link to ASCO abstract