Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40075528›Full record

SynthesisBreast cancer research : BCR2025

Role of circulating tumor DNA in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Diana Zhang, Shayesteh Jahanfar, Judy B Rabinowitz, Joshua Dower, Fei Song, Cherng-Horng Wu, Xiao Hu, Phillip Tracy, Mark Basik, Arielle Medford and 8 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Breast cancer research : BCR, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Diana ZhangDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Shayesteh JahanfarTufts University Medical School, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Judy B RabinowitzTufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
Joshua DowerDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Fei SongDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Cherng-Horng WuDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Xiao HuDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Phillip TracyDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Mark BasikLady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Arielle MedfordDepartment of Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Po-Han LinNational Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chiun-Sheng HuangNational Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Francois-Clement BidardCirculating Tumor Laboratory, Inserm CIC-BT 1428, Institut Curie, Paris, France.
Shufang RenaultCirculating Tumor Laboratory, Inserm CIC-BT 1428, Institut Curie, Paris, France.
Lori PaiDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Mary BussDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Heather A ParsonsHarvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Ilana SchlamDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. ilana_schlam@dfci.harvard.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 15% of all breast cancers and carries a worse prognosis relative to other breast cancer subtypes. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the prognostic value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in early-stage TNBC.

methodsA literature search was conducted using Ovid Medline, Elsevier EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science Databases for publications up to 11/16/2023. Results were uploaded to Covidence and assessed by two independent reviewers. Studies assessing the use of ctDNA to predict recurrence free survival and related outcomes as well as overall survival were included. All recurrence outcomes were combined during analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using Revman Web. Log-hazard ratios (HR) were pooled for studies reporting recurrence and death as a time-to-event outcomes. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated and pooled for studies reporting patient-level data on recurrence, death, and pathological complete response (pCR). Prospero ID: CRD42023492529.

resultsA total of 3,526 publications were identified through our literature search, and 20 publications (n = 1202 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. In studies that reported recurrence as a time-to-event outcome, post-neoadjuvant (before or after surgery) ctDNA + status was associated with a higher likelihood of disease recurrence (HR 4.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.81-6.04). For studies that reported patient-level data, post-neoadjuvant ctDNA + status was associated with higher odds of disease recurrence (OR 6.72, 95% CI 3.61-12.54). Pooled log-HR also revealed that ctDNA + status in the post-neoadjuvant setting (before or after surgery) was associated with worse overall survival (HR 3.26, 95% CI 1.88-5.63).

conclusionsOur findings suggest that ctDNA could be used as a prognostic biomarker to anticipate the risk of relapse. However, it remains unclear if therapeutic intervention for patients who are ctDNA + can improve outcomes. While more studies are needed before incorporating ctDNA into clinical practice, the findings of this meta-analysis are reassuring and show the promise of ctDNA as a biomarker.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorCirculating Tumor DNANeoplasm Recurrence, LocalTriple Negative Breast NeoplasmsFemaleHumansNeoplasm StagingPrognosisBiomarkers, TumorCirculating Tumor DNACirculating tumor DNADisease free survivalOverall survivalPathological complete responsePost-neoadjuvantPrognosisRecurrence-free survivalTriple-negative breast cancer

Identifiers

PMID40075528
PMCPMC11905660

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.