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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Detection of a Circulating MicroRNA Custom Panel in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Published on: March 14, 2019
Circulating tumor DNA as a predictive biomarker for colorectal cancer postsurgical recurrence: a systematic review
Atta Ullah Khan1, Yasameen Hameed Jasim2, Kanza Shahid3
1Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138, Naples, Italy. attaullah.khan@unicampania.it.
Purpose:
Colorectal carcinoma constitutes a predominant etiology of oncological mortality globally. This systematic review and meta-analysis elucidated the prognostic utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a predictive biomarker for postsurgical recurrence in colorectal cancer patients.
Methods:
Two independent investigators conducted systematic literature search across PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and clinical trial registries. Studies investigating ctDNA prognostic significance for colorectal cancer recurrence were incorporated. Random-effects models were implemented utilizing restricted maximum likelihood methodology. The study quality was assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
Results:
Following screening of 2259 records, 11 studies were incorporated. ctDNA-positive patients exhibited significantly elevated recurrence risk as compared to ctDNA-negative counterparts (pooled HR: 2.34; 95% CI: 1.90-2.79; p < 0.001). Moderate heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 66.40%), attributable to patient stage distribution, sampling timing, detection platforms, and mutational panel variations. Stage I-III patients demonstrated exceptional consistency (HR: 2.04, I2 = 0.00%). Detection platforms showed robust performance: droplet digital PCR (HR: 3.63), next-generation sequencing (HR: 2.67), and Safe-SeqS (HR: 2.16), with no significant differences (p = 0.10). Adjuvant chemotherapy analysis revealed differential performance: treated patients (HR: 2.50; 95% CI: 2.08-2.93) versus untreated (HR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.07-2.34; p = 0.04). Extended analysis confirmed prognostic utility for overall survival (HR: 2.24) and surveillance recurrence-free survival (HR: 3.54).
Conclusions:
ctDNA represents a robust prognostic biomarker for postsurgical colorectal cancer recurrence with consistent cross-platform performance. Enhanced prognostic value in adjuvant chemotherapy patients supports personalized surveillance implementation, though methodological standardization remains warranted.
