Overview
The increasing recognition of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) underscores its potential as a prognostic and predictive tool. However, there's still much to understand about how personalized ctDNA tests are utilized and can guide treatment decisions in the real-world setting.
Using data from the Flatiron Health nationwide electronic health record (EHR)-derived database, this study aimed to better understand this gap by examining ctDNA test results in the adjuvant setting and its correlation with other biomarkers of interest and specific sites of metastasis (SOM) in early-stage CRC patients.
Why this matters
The study represents a significant advancement as the largest investigation to date of real-world ctDNA testing in early-stage CRC. It suggests that combining ctDNA with next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing has the potential to predict risk for liver metastasis and other patient outcomes. These findings hint at the future direction of ctDNA testing as it becomes more standard of care in routine practice and how it might inform personalized treatment strategies in CRC patients. However, further research is necessary to fully translate these insights into actionable strategies for improving patient care and outcomes.