ctDNA Dynamics Predict Outcomes After Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Colorectal Cancer
Clinical Summary:
- Design/Population: This study analyzed patients with resected stage I-IV colorectal cancer from the CIRCULATE-Japan GALAXY study who received adjuvant chemotherapy and underwent serial ctDNA testing before and during treatment.
- Key outcomes: ctDNA dynamics strongly stratified recurrence risk, with sustained negativity or clearance associated with favorable outcomes, while rising ctDNA predicted poor prognosis and no benefit from prolonged chemotherapy.
- Clinical Relevance: These findings suggest that on-treatment ctDNA dynamics may help personalize adjuvant chemotherapy duration and identify patients who may require alternative treatment strategies due to chemotherapy-resistant disease.
Eiji Oki, MD, PhD, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan, discusses findings from the CIRCULATE-Japan GALAXY study evaluating serial circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring during adjuvant chemotherapy among patients with colorectal cancer.
Results demonstrated that ctDNA dynamics measured before and during treatment strongly stratified recurrence risk. Patients with sustained ctDNA negativity or ctDNA clearance had favorable outcomes regardless of chemotherapy duration, whereas patients with rising ctDNA had poor outcomes despite prolonged treatment.
Dr Oki presented these findings at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois.
Source:
Yamamoto H, Bando H, Nakamura Y, et al. Informing optimal duration of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in resected stage I-IV colorectal cancer (CRC) based on early circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamics. Presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting. May 29 - June 2, 2026. Chicago, Illinois. Abstract 3501.
