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Updated: Oct 26, 2026
Detection and Monitoring of Tumor Associated Circulating DNA in Patient Biofluids
Published on: June 8, 2019
Circulating tumor DNA in gynecologic oncology: moving from the present into the future
Yifan Emily Chang1, Yvonne G Lin
1Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Purpose Of Review:
The use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) offers a promising, minimally invasive alternative to tissue biopsies for real-time surveillance in gynecologic cancers. This review provides an overview of ctDNA technology, its clinical interpretation and foundational applications in oncology, as well as its current uses in gynecologic cancers.
Recent Findings:
Selecting the appropriate ctDNA assay is critically important, as current platforms address distinct clinical questions by offering either deep genomic sequencing data (i.e. ultra-sensitive and deeply sequenced) or broad genomic information (i.e. thousands of biologically relevant genomic variants). Robust prospective data in other solid tumors are now emerging and may inform how ctDNA can be utilized in gynecologic cancers to inform tumor burden or track evolving tumor biology.
Summary:
Thoroughly understanding the strengths and limitations of ctDNA usage in gynecologic cancer is imperative for accurate patient counseling and well-informed real-time therapeutic decision-making.
