Steven B. Abramson, MD Executive Vice President and Vice Dean for Education, Faculty, and Academic Affairs, Chief Academic Officer | NYU Langone Hassenfeld Children's Hospital
Steven B. Abramson, MD Executive Vice President and Vice Dean for Education, Faculty, and Academic Affairs, Chief Academic Officer | NYU Langone Hassenfeld Children's Hospital
Monitoring blood levels of DNA fragments from dying tumor cells can predict skin cancer recurrence, according to a recent study. Researchers from NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center found that 80% of stage 3 melanoma patients with detectable circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) before starting treatment experienced cancer recurrence.
"Circulating tumor DNA tests could help oncologists identify which melanoma patients are most likely to respond well to therapy," stated study lead author Mahrukh Syeda, a research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Syeda suggested that these assessments could guide treatment decisions in clinical settings in the future.
The research also showed that patients with detectable ctDNA during treatment often experienced recurrence, signaling potentially worsening disease. Syeda emphasized that swift tracking of treatment progress could be crucial in managing melanoma, a difficult-to-treat cancer once it spreads.
The study highlights ctDNA’s effectiveness in assessing treatment response, drawing on previous findings of its value in predicting survival in stage 4 melanoma. Published in The Lancet Oncology, the research included nearly 600 participants and compared ctDNA levels with clinical evidence of recurrence.
"Unlike standard tissue-based analyses of tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA tests provide a clear, direct measure of the disease itself and can tell us outright that melanoma has returned," noted study senior author David Polsky of NYU Langone. Despite some limitations, plans are underway to enhance the test's sensitivity and to evaluate its impact on survival and life quality in clinical settings.
Supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, the study involved researchers from various institutions. Besides NYU Langone's team, contributors included academics from the University of Sydney, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, University of Queensland, and others across Europe and Australia.
The study highlights NYU Langone's reputation as an integrated health system recognized for superior patient outcomes. NYU Langone boasts leading rankings from Vizient Inc. and U.S. News & World Report, a comprehensive service offering, and substantial research efforts.
For additional inquiries, contact David March at NYU Langone Health.
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