ArticleNPJ precision oncology2025
Personalized circulating tumor DNA dynamics inform survival and response to immune checkpoint blockade in recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer.
Article in NPJ precision oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
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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.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed.
- The role of serologic biomarkers "liquid biopsy" in the fight against breast cancer: From biological foundations to clinical impact.iScience · 2026Review
- Immune response to DNA and RNA: structural insights, molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic targeting.Molecular biomedicine · 2026Review
- Enrichment of mutated DNA enables ultra-sensitive ctDNA detection in NSCLC using shallow targeted sequencing.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Review
- 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
- Precision immuno-oncology in oral cancer: latest trends in biomarkers, novel drug development and nanoparticle-based therapeutic platforms.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2026Review
- Reprogramming the immunosuppressive breast cancer microenvironment: integrating cellular, metabolic, and stromal targets for rational immunotherapy.Frontiers in immunology · 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
Corrections and comments
- Update of
Authors and funding
16 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) is an aggressive disease with limited predictive biomarkers, often leading to ineffective treatments and unnecessary toxicity. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) provides a promising real-time, non-invasive tool for monitoring disease activity. In this study, we analyzed 137 plasma samples from 16 patients with R/M HNSCC receiving immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), using a tumor-informed, highly sensitive next-generation sequencing assay (RaDaR, NeoGenomics). Serial ctDNA monitoring was performed at baseline and throughout treatment, and its association with clinical outcomes, including disease control, three-year overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS), was evaluated through univariable and multivariable analyses. ctDNA negativity during treatment was significantly associated with improved disease control (OR 21.7, 95% CI 1.86-754.88, p = 0.0317), three-year OS (HR 0.04, 95% CI 0.00-0.47, p = 0.0103), and PFS (HR 0.03, 95% CI 0.00-0.37, p = 0.0057). Early increases in ctDNA levels correlated with disease progression. Our findings suggest that ctDNA negativity, regardless of PD-L1 expression, ICB regimen, or line of therapy, is a strong predictor of favorable outcomes in R/M HNSCC.
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