Postoperative Lymph Is a Proximal Source of ctDNA for Detection of Recurrence in HPV-Independent Head and Neck Cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Relapse is a major cause of failure in human papillomavirus-independent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Clinicopathologic criteria for adjuvant treatment remain imprecise and have not changed for decades. We investigated whether ctDNA in lymphatic exudate collected via surgical drains ("lymph") 24 hours after surgery identified molecular residual disease (MRD) and compared its performance with time-matched plasma.

Experimental design

Using an ultra-sensitive tumor-informed sequencing approach, tumor variants were called in lymph and plasma to classify patients as ctDNA positive or ctDNA negative, trained in an initial cohort of 36 patients, and replicated in an independent cohort of 37 patients. Progression-free survival was compared in ctDNA(+) versus ctDNA(-

SUBMITTER: Lazare S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12770940 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature