Clinical Relevance of Post-Treatment Circulating Tumor DNA Detection in Early Breast Cancer Using a Tissue-Free Epigenomic Assay: A 2-Year Landmark Analysis.
JCO Precis OncolSep 4, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchOncology (Medical)
Thomas W P Friedl, Peter A Fasching, Andreas D Hartkopf et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This phase III clinical trial evaluated the prognostic value of post-treatment circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection in 313 patients with early-stage breast cancer. The study found that ctDNA was detected in 5.8% of samples, with 94% of positive cases leading to distant recurrence, indicating a strong association with shorter distant recurrence-free intervals (HR, 33.3) and poorer overall survival (HR, 27.3).
Key findings
- ctDNA was detected in 5.8% of samples, with 94% of positive cases leading to distant recurrence.
- ctDNA positivity was associated with a hazard ratio of 33.3 for shorter distant recurrence-free intervals.
- The sensitivity for distant recurrence detection was 73% in samples collected within 1 year before recurrence.
- Specificity in nonrecurred patients was 99.6%.
Why it matters
The ability to detect ctDNA post-treatment may allow for early identification of patients at high risk for distant recurrence, potentially guiding timely interventions and improving long-term outcomes in early-stage breast cancer.