A liquid biopsy test that detects circulating tumor DNA identified patients likely to redevelop colorectal cancer after having undergone surgery to remove tumors, Medpage Today reported Jan. 17.
Researchers had 218 patients take the ctDNA test: 20 had detectable ctDNA and 15 of those patients had CRC recurrence. Five patients who didn’t have disease recurrence all received adjuvant chemotherapy. Researchers believe targeting patients likely to redevelop CRC with chemotherapy could prevent the relapse.
Among 198 patients who tested negative for ctDNA, 13.5 percent redeveloped the disease.