ctDNA refines risk in neoadjuvant-resistant breast cancer
I-SPY 2 findings show that longitudinally collected ctDNA can meaningfully refine risk stratification in patients who don't achieve complete response after neoadjuvant therapy — supporting ctDNA as a tool for guiding post-surgical treatment decisions.
Featured by Targeted Oncology, new findings from the I-SPY 2.2 trial demonstrate how circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can improve risk assessment for patients with breast cancer who do not achieve a pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant therapy. By monitoring ctDNA over time, researchers can gain valuable insights into residual disease and the likelihood of cancer recurrence. The study shows that longitudinal ctDNA testing provides a more precise method of identifying patients who may benefit from additional treatment after surgery. Rather than relying solely on traditional clinical and pathological factors, ctDNA offers a dynamic biomarker that reflects how a patient's disease is responding to therapy in real time. These findings support the growing role of ctDNA in precision oncology, helping clinicians make more informed post-surgical treatment decisions while personalizing care for patients at higher risk of recurrence. As research continues, ctDNA has the potential to become an important tool for improving long-term outcomes and advancing individualized breast cancer treatment.