Author(s)
Aniruddha Mundhada, MD
MTech Biomedical Engineering: Research Fellow
Mark Hamilton, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma
University of Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas
Primary Audience: Pathologists and Clinical Scientists
Secondary Audience: Residents, Laboratory Technologist/Scientist (Includes all sub-specialty areas), Students, Pathologist Assistants, Laboratory Directors and Educators
Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:
· describe the biological mechanisms by which tumor cells release circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) into the bloodstream, and outline appropriate methods for collecting and processing cell-free DNA (cfDNA) for clinical use;
· discuss the clinical applications of ctDNA-based liquid biopsy, including its role in detecting actionable mutations, monitoring measurable residual disease (MRD), assessing treatment response, and identifying resistance mechanisms;
· compare the advantages and limitations of ctDNA-based liquid biopsy with traditional tissue biopsy, including considerations such as non-invasiveness, tumor heterogeneity, assay sensitivity, and standardization challenges; and
· interpret ctDNA results in the context of personalized cancer care and apply these findings to therapeutic decision-making, including the selection of targeted therapies and immunotherapies.