ArticleESMO open2025
Tumor-informed ctDNA assay to predict recurrence in locally advanced squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).
Article in ESMO open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed.
- Genome-wide variation in cell-free DNA end-motif entropy predicts immunotherapy response in head and neck cancer.The Journal of clinical investigation · 2026Trial
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors in resectable and locoregionally advanced HNSCC: past lessons, present evidence, and future directions.The oncologist · 2026Review
- Liquid Biopsies in HNSCC: Current Landscape and Emerging Opportunities in the Era of HPV Stratification.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Personalized ctDNA analysis for detection of residual disease and recurrence in surgically treated HNSCC patients.NPJ precision oncology · 2026Article
- Circulating tumor DNA in neoadjuvant therapy for solid tumors.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Review
- Perioperative immunotherapy in resectable HNSCC: biological rationale to practical multidisciplinary implementation.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Review
- Immune biomarkers for head and neck cancer.Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII · 2025Review
- Liquid Biopsy and Circulating Biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancer: Advancing Non-Invasive Detection and Tailored Management.Cancers · 2025Review
- Circulating tumour cells and circulating tumour DNA in head and neck cancer: from molecular insights to clinical impact.Cancer metastasis reviews · 2025Review
- Tumor-Informed ctDNA Assay to Predict Outcome in Recurrent and/or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck Treated with PD-1 Inhibitor.Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research · 2025Article
- The Value of Circulating Tumor HPV DNA in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer: A Review.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Machine Learning Modelling, Single-Cell Landscape Profiling and Spatial Transcriptomics Provide New Insights Into SUMOylation in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.IET systems biologyArticle
- Clinical Utility and Limitations of Circulating HPV DNA in Tonsillar Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Narrative Review.Cancer control : journal of the Moffitt Cancer CenterReview
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10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDespite multimodal treatment, locally advanced (LA) squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) has a recurrence rate of ∼50%. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a potential biomarker for minimal residual disease detection after curative-intent treatment. This strategy could be used to identify the patients at greater risk of recurrence, for whom extended or intensified therapy and/or surveillance imaging may be considered. MATERIALS AND
methodsA personalized, tumor-informed 16-plex multiplex PCR-next-generation sequencing assay was used for the detection of ctDNA in banked plasma samples collected pre-treatment (baseline time point) and within 12 weeks from the end of curative-intent treatment (post-treatment time point). The primary and secondary endpoints were recurrence-free-survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) of post-treatment ctDNA-positive and -negative patients, respectively.
resultsOut of a cohort of 50 patients with LA SCCHN, personalized ctDNA assays were successfully designed for 43 patients. Among these 43 patients, ctDNA was detected in 42 of 43 (97.6%) patients at baseline. At the post-treatment time point, ctDNA was detected in 4 of 42 (9.5%) patients, 3 of whom relapsed. Of the 43 patients, 11 (26%) experienced disease recurrence within 2 years of follow-up. Patients with post-treatment ctDNA positivity demonstrated a significantly inferior RFS and OS (P ≤ 0.05), compared with ctDNA-negative patients. The median lead time for ctDNA positivity over clinical recurrence was 7.0 months (range 3.6-7.1 months).
conclusionsThe personalized, tumor-informed assay detected pre-treatment ctDNA in the majority of the patients with LA SCCHN. ctDNA positivity within 12 weeks of completing curative-intent treatment was predictive of worse RFS and OS. These results support studies to assess the value of longitudinal testing for surveillance and may open the path to initiating treatment upon molecular recurrence in patients with LA SCCHN.
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