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Personalized ctDNA for Monitoring Disease Status in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

  • 0Center for Head and Neck Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Clinical Cancer Research : an Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research +

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June 2, 2024

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June 2, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing is feasible for human papillomavirus-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Post-treatment ctDNA positivity indicates disease progression and is linked to worse survival outcomes.

Area Of Science

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Diagnostics
  • Genomics

Background

  • Locoregionally advanced human papillomavirus-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) frequently relapses.
  • The clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for detecting minimal residual disease in this patient group remains unclear.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To evaluate the feasibility and clinical utility of a personalized ctDNA assay in patients with human papillomavirus-negative HNSCC.
  • To correlate ctDNA detectability and changes after treatment with disease progression and patient survival.

Main Methods

  • Retrospective evaluation of a commercial, tumor-informed ctDNA assay (Signatera) in patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC.
  • Analysis of ctDNA detectability before and after treatment, correlating results with progression-free and overall survival.

Main Results

  • ctDNA testing was successful in 86% of patients, with 75% showing detectable ctDNA pretreatment.
  • Post-treatment ctDNA positivity was significantly associated with worse progression-free survival (HR, 7.33; P < 0.001).
  • No clinical features predicted ctDNA detectability or levels.

Conclusions

  • Tumor-informed ctDNA testing is a feasible approach for human papillomavirus-negative HNSCC.
  • Post-treatment ctDNA positivity serves as a significant indicator of disease progression and inferior survival.
  • Further research is needed to explore the potential of ctDNA in guiding HNSCC therapy.