Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026
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Detection and Monitoring of Tumor Associated Circulating DNA in Patient Biofluids
Published on: June 8, 2019
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Single-Institution Experience Using Circulating Tumor DNA to Monitor Recurrence in Rectal Cancer
John C Hulse1, Kristen M Quinn1, Nathaniel Oberholtzer1
1Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
Diseases of the Colon and Rectum
|April 14, 2026
Summary
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) shows promise in detecting rectal cancer recurrence earlier than standard methods. A positive ctDNA result was more indicative of distant metastasis than local recurrence, potentially guiding treatment decisions.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Rectal Cancer Research
Background:
- Standard rectal cancer treatment involves neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery or non-operative management.
- Significant risks of local and distant recurrence persist despite surveillance.
- Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is not yet a standardized tool for rectal cancer surveillance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of ctDNA as an additional tool for monitoring recurrence after definitive rectal cancer therapy.
- To compare ctDNA detection rates for local versus distant recurrences.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patients diagnosed with rectal cancer between 2021-2024.
- Analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) status in patients with available data.
- Comparison of ctDNA status at clinical recurrence detection and subgroup analysis by recurrence location.
Main Results:
- Of 144 patients with available ctDNA data, 28 experienced clinical recurrence.
- Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was positive in 71.4% of recurrences, a median of 100 days before clinical detection.
- Distant recurrences (91.7%) were more frequently associated with positive ctDNA than local recurrences (58.8%).
Conclusions:
- Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can aid surveillance in rectal cancer patients, detecting recurrences earlier than conventional methods.
- Positive ctDNA may indicate distant metastases, influencing management strategies, including salvage surgery considerations.
- Further large-scale prospective studies are necessary to integrate ctDNA into standard surveillance protocols.
