Patient acceptability of circulating tumour DNA testing in endometrial cancer follow-up

Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) is emerging as a potential option to detect disease recurrence in many cancer types, however, ensuring patient acceptability of changing clinical practice and the introduction of new technology is paramount.

Patients enrolled in a non-intervention cohort study determining the ability of ctDNA to detect recurrent endometrial cancer (EC) were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. Analysis was performed by Template Analysis.

Eighteen patients were interviewed. A ctDNA blood test was viewed by participants as more physically and psychologically acceptable than clinical examination to monitor for EC recurrence. In particular, participants expressed overwhelming preference for a blood test rather than pelvic examination. Although participants acknowledged that an abnormal ctDNA result could cause anxiety, they expressed a preference to be informed of their results, even if a recurrence was too small to detect radiologically. Explanations for these opinions were a desire for certainty whether their cancer would recur or not, and knowledge would help them be more aware of symptoms that should be reported to their clinician.

ctDNA monitoring to identify EC recurrence appears to be acceptable to patients, and for many, it may be preferable to clinical examination.