Tracking the Evolution of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer- a DNA test that is 90% sensitive to detect recurrence up to a year before CT

Researchers conducted a  study, published in Nature, to investigate whether this genetic diversity could be tracked clinically. Using blood samples from 96 of the 100 patients, they demonstrated that the patchwork of genetic faults present in non-small cell lung cancer, could be monitored using bits of DNA in the blood that have broken off from a tumour (circulating tumour DNA).

They then analysed blood taken from 24 patients after surgery, and accurately identified more than 90 per cent of those destined to relapse – up to a year before clinical imaging could confirm the disease’s return. This finding opens up numerous opportunities for new drug trials to try to prevent lung cancer relapse. Monitoring benefit from chemotherapy after surgery is not currently possible as there are often no clinical signs of disease.

see original article here https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaap/ncurrent/full/nature22364.html