Circulating tumor DNA monitoring detects minimal residual disease and predicts outcomes in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma after esophagectomy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring shows promise for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) and predicting prognosis in various cancers, but its role in esophageal cancer (EC) post-esophagectomy is unclear. This study evaluated ctDNA for detecting MRD and predicting outcomes in EC patients.

Methods

A two-step observational study included 40 EC patients (36 squamous cell carcinoma and 4 adenocarcinoma) undergoing upfront surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by esophagectomy. Plasma samples (n = 124) were collected at six time points, and ctDNA was assessed by next-generation sequencing using an in-house cancer panel. Associations with clinical outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Pre-therapy ctDNA levels correlated with tumor stage (P = 0.01

SUBMITTER: Hu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12290085 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature