Longitudinal utDNA dynamics predict recurrence risk in upper tract urothelial carcinoma: A prospective cohort study.
Urine tumor DNA testing caught bladder cancer recurrence five months earlier than standard imaging in cancer patients.
In a 47-patient prospective cohort of upper tract urothelial carcinoma patients undergoing radical nephroureterectomy, serial urine tumor DNA testing dramatically outperformed standard cystoscopy surveillance (83% vs 17% sensitivity) and gave a 5.67-month lead time before imaging detected bladder recurrence. Dynamic utLIFE trajectory—particularly conversion from negative to positive—was the strongest predictor of recurrence-free survival.
What the study was
- Study design
- prospective_cohort
- Category
- early_cancer_detection
- Maturity
- Validated
- Journal
- Urol Oncol
Why it surfaced
Prospective design with serial sampling strengthens ctDNA utility evidence; clinically significant lead time of 5.67 months; design_quality capped at 1 due to small n=47; population_need capped—UTUC is relatively uncommon; promising but requires larger validation.
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