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Impact of Minimal Residual Disease on Early Recurrence of Liver Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

  • 0Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
Cancer Science +

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March 10, 2025

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March 10, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Postoperative circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detects minimal residual disease (MRD) in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) patients, predicting recurrence and poorer survival. Adjuvant chemotherapy may not benefit MRD-negative patients.

Area Of Science

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Diagnostics
  • Surgical Oncology

Background

  • Efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy for resectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is debated.
  • Postoperative circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a prognostic marker for minimal residual disease (MRD) in nonmetastatic colorectal cancer.
  • Limited research exists on ctDNA's role in CRLM prognosis.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To evaluate ctDNA as a marker of MRD in CRLM patients.
  • To assess the prognostic value of MRD in predicting recurrence and survival.
  • To investigate the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on MRD-negative CRLM patients.

Main Methods

  • Observational study of 53 CRLM patients undergoing primary and liver tumor resection.
  • Targeted sequencing of 50 common CRC genes in metastatic liver tumors.
  • Blood sample analysis for ctDNA before and 1 month after surgery.

Main Results

  • ctDNA detected in 45/53 patients pre-surgery and 11/53 post-surgery.
  • All MRD-positive patients recurred, with 9/11 experiencing early recurrence.
  • MRD positivity significantly correlated with poorer recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS).
  • Adjuvant chemotherapy showed no significant impact on RFS or OS in 42 MRD-negative patients.

Conclusions

  • MRD detected by ctDNA is a valuable predictor of postoperative recurrence risk in CRLM patients.
  • MRD positivity is a significant risk factor for early recurrence.
  • Adjuvant chemotherapy may not improve outcomes for MRD-negative CRLM patients.

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