Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40146490›Full record

ArticleAnnals of surgical oncology2025

Circulating Tumor DNA in High-Risk Stage II/III Cutaneous Melanoma: A Feasibility Study.

Kristen E Rhodin, Margaret H O'Connor, Aaron Therien, Shayna Hollander, Viviana Geron, Uma Nair, Emily Rakestraw, April K Salama, Riddhishkumar Shah, Douglas S Tyler and 1 more

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Article in Annals of surgical oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Circulating Tumor DNA as a Biomarker for Melanoma Prognosis and Therapy.American journal of clinical dermatology · 2026
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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

11 authors.

Kristen E RhodinDepartment of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. kristen.rhodin@duke.edu.
Margaret H O'ConnorDepartment of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Aaron TherienDepartment of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Shayna HollanderDepartment of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Viviana GeronDepartment of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Uma NairDepartment of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Emily RakestrawDepartment of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
April K SalamaDepartment of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Riddhishkumar ShahDepartment of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Douglas S TylerDepartment of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
Georgia M BeasleyDepartment of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdjuvant therapies reduce recurrence in patients with clinical stage IIB/IIC/III melanoma; however, better risk stratification and patient selection are needed. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a marker of micrometastatic residual disease is being explored for such purposes in other malignancies. We aimed to explore the feasibility of serial ctDNA monitoring in patients with stage II/III melanoma, as well as the association of ctDNA elevation with disease burden and outcomes.

methodsA single-institution prospective study was conducted on patients with clinical stage IIB/IIC/III melanoma. Primary tumor was sent to Natera for generation of a tumor-informed mPCR-NGS assay (Signatera™). Peripheral blood was collected for analysis at pre-specified timepoints. Patients were stratified by ctDNA elevations both pre- and postoperatively to compare tumor characteristics and recurrence-free survival (RFS).

resultsOverall, 30 patients were enrolled. The median Breslow depth was 4.4 mm and 70% were ulcerated. Signatera™ assays were successfully created for all 30 patients. Median follow-up from the time of surgery was 16 months and 13 patients recurred with median RFS of 19 months. Eight of these 13 patients (62%) had detectable ctDNA levels predating their clinical or radiographic recurrence. Elevated ctDNA at the first post-operative timepoint was associated with worse RFS.

conclusionsctDNA monitoring is feasible for patients with high-risk cutaneous melanoma. Our findings suggest that detectable ctDNA post-operatively may be associated with worse outcomes. Elevations during surveillance may predict subsequent clinical recurrence; however, the role of ctDNA in adjuvant therapy decision-making and surveillance is not yet ready for broad application.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorCirculating Tumor DNAMelanomaNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalSkin NeoplasmsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFeasibility StudiesFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm StagingPrognosisBiomarkers, TumorCirculating Tumor DNAAdjuvant therapyCirculating tumor DNAImmunotherapyMelanomaRisk stratification

Identifiers

PMID40146490

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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.