Longitudinal methylated ctDNA increases predict immunotherapy progression across solid tumors.
Blood-based DNA tests detect cancer immunotherapy failure weeks earlier than imaging, potentially enabling faster treatment adjustments for solid tumors.
A tissue-free methylation-based ctDNA assay applied longitudinally to 142 patients on immunotherapy identified treatment failure significantly earlier than radiographic imaging in two independent prospective cohorts. Molecular progression defined as ctDNA increase strongly predicted inferior survival across multiple solid tumor types, including a subgroup with stable disease on RECIST where imaging is least informative.
What the study was
- Study design
- prospective_cohort
- Population
- Advanced solid tumor patients on immune checkpoint inhibitors
- Sample size
- 142
- Category
- Early Detection
- Maturity
- Exploratory
- Journal
- J Liq Biopsy
Why it surfaced
High-priority: addresses a critical clinical unmet need (early detection of ICI failure), uses validated tissue-agnostic liquid biopsy approach, prospective two-cohort design with robust survival endpoints, and has direct implications for treatment switching and trial enrichment strategies.
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