Circulating tumor DNA level is associated with time to clinical recurrence in Merkel cell carcinoma: Implications for patient management.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) recurs in 40% of patients. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is an emerging blood-based biomarker for early MCC recurrence detection.

Objective

To evaluate the timing and prognostic significance of ctDNA levels relative to clinical recurrence.

Methods

This multicenter prospective study analyzed 669 tumor-informed ctDNA tests from 215 MCC patients (stage I-IV) without clinically evident disease after treatment.

Results

Patients with at least 1 positive ctDNA test were more likely to experience recurrence compared to ctDNA-negative patients (hazard ratio: 18.1, 95% CI: 8.9-36.7), with 77% developing clinically evident disease by 1 year. The median lead time between the first positive ctDNA and clinical recurrence was 2.7 months.

SUBMITTER: Akaike T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12596136 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature