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Updated: Dec 11, 2025
06:53
Detection and Monitoring of Tumor Associated Circulating DNA in Patient Biofluids
Published on: June 8, 2019
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Circulating Tumor DNA in Cancer Management: A Value Proposition
1Department of Chemical Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Center for Cancer, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine
|August 25, 2020
Summary
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing complements tumor biopsies for detecting mutations and tracking resistance. This noninvasive approach offers significant benefits for guiding targeted therapies in cancer care.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Genomics
Background:
- Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis enables noninvasive tumor molecular profiling.
- ctDNA testing is increasingly used for detecting therapeutically relevant mutations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a value-based assessment of ctDNA testing for evaluating its benefits.
- To determine the utility of ctDNA testing in informing targeted therapy treatment decisions.
Main Methods:
- A value proposition approach was employed to assess the benefits of ctDNA implementation.
- The study evaluated ctDNA testing's role in complementing tumor biopsy analysis.
Main Results:
- ctDNA testing effectively complements tumor biopsies in identifying predictive mutations for treatment response.
- ctDNA testing shows potential for monitoring resistance mechanisms in patients with progressive disease.
Conclusions:
- Implementing ctDNA testing in routine clinical care benefits patients, clinicians, and laboratory medicine specialists.
- Appropriate ctDNA testing can enhance the management of targeted therapies and cancer patient care.
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