ctDNA

What is ctDNA?
 Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is cell free DNA- dsDNA and mtDNA- from tumor cells that can be found in the plasma of cancer patients.

What is ctDNA used for?

ctDNA has growing applications as liquid or blood biopsies for:

  • Evaluating mutations in tumor cells. 
  • Monitoring response to treatment.
  • Monitoring changes to the tumor as the half-life of ctDNA is from 30 minutes to two hours.
  • Use as a surrogate to assess tumor stage, size, and aggressiveness, based on the concentration of the ct DNA and the number of somatic changes.
  • Possible advancements in cancer screening.
  • Companion diagnostics
  • Identification of possible treatment targets

Source: Adashek, J. J., Janku, F., & Kurzrock, R. (2021). Signed in Blood: Circulating Tumor DNA in Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment and Screening. Cancers, 13(14), 3600. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13143600