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‹ Fri · 31 Jul 2026
Early cancer detection or prevention

Predicting recurrence of Stage IA lung adenocarcinoma using ctDNA whole genome mutational signatures.

A blood test can detect early lung cancer recurrence months before imaging shows it, helping catch returning disease when treatment options are broadest.

Tumor-informed ctDNA whole-genome sequencing predicted recurrence in Stage IA NSCLC with 0.75 sensitivity and 0.83 specificity, with a median 16.7-month lead time over clinical/imaging detection; also distinguished second primary from recurrence in histologically challenging cases. This record was retained from the prior triage attempt for PubMed pipeline handoff.

What the study was

Study design
prospective diagnostic cohort (n=42, tumor-informed WGS ctDNA)
Category
early_cancer_detection
Maturity
Validated
Journal
J Mol Diagn

Why it surfaced

Novel application of whole-genome ctDNA surveillance to the earliest-stage NSCLC, where recurrence risk is underappreciated and no validated liquid biopsy approach currently exists. High novelty (tumor-informed WGS with AI mutational signatures) and direct unmet clinical need.

A plain-language summary of published research — not medical advice. Talk to a clinician about your own care.