Circulating tumor DNA as a biomarker for the prediction of minimal residual disease and the individualization of adjuvant therapy in colorectal cancer - a review of current evidence and perspectives
Blood tests that detect cancer DNA months before imaging can guide personalized chemotherapy decisions, potentially sparing some patients from unnecessary treatment.
This review synthesizes evidence from landmark ctDNA trials (BESPOKE CRC, DYNAMIC, GALAXY, COSMOS, VICTORI) establishing ctDNA as the most sensitive MRD predictor in CRC, capable of identifying relapse months before standard imaging. The DYNAMIC trial provides level I evidence that ctDNA-guided adjuvant de-escalation is non-inferior to standard therapy, with multiple ongoing randomized trials (DYNAMIC-III, PEGASUS) expanding this paradigm.
What the study was
- Study design
- Systematic narrative review (PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov)
- Population
- Colorectal cancer patients post-curative resection, adjuvant therapy context
- Category
- Early Detection
- Maturity
- Validated
- Journal
- Klinická Onkologie
Why it surfaced
Timely synthesis consolidating ctDNA evidence across multiple landmark trials for a high-burden cancer; DYNAMIC-guided therapy de-escalation is the most clinically actionable finding summarized.
A plain-language summary of published research — not medical advice. Talk to a clinician about your own care.