Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41307327›Full record

ArticleMolecular oncology2026

Monitoring of circulating tumor DNA allows early detection of disease relapse in patients with operable breast cancer.

Kristin Løge Aanestad, Marie Austdal, Oddmund Nordgård, Gunnar Mellgren, Satu Oltedal, Marie L Austbø, Ylva H Vignes, Thomas Helland, Kristin Jonsdottir, Tone H Lende and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

14 authors.

Kristin Løge AanestadDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9451-0771
Marie AustdalDepartment of Research, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
Oddmund NordgårdDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5847-6752
Gunnar MellgrenHormone Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Satu OltedalDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
Marie L AustbøDepartment of Pathology, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
Ylva H VignesDepartment of Surgery, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
Thomas HellandHormone Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Kristin JonsdottirDepartment of Research, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
Tone H LendeDepartment of Surgery, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
Emilius A M JanssenDepartment of Pathology, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
Bjørnar GiljeDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
Kjersti TjensvollDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
PBCB study group

Funding

Helse VestSparebankstitelsen SR-bank
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Breast cancer is known for late recurrences, yet current follow-up lacks radiological or blood-based monitoring for systemic relapse. This study evaluated circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring for early detection of systemic relapse after curative treatment. In this case-control study of 70 patients with operable breast cancer (35 with relapse and 35 without relapse), blood samples were collected every 6-12 months during a median 8.3-year follow-up. ctDNA was analyzed by targeted DNA sequencing using Oncomine™ Breast cfDNA Research Assay v2, and results were compared to genetic analysis of tumor and metastasis biopsies. ctDNA was detected at relapse in 19 of 35 (54%) patients with disease relapse and preceded clinical or radiological relapse detection in 17, with a median lead time of 10.3 months. In 13 (68%) patients, there was concordance with tumor mutations, and in seven patients, there was also concordance with metastasis. Among the relapse-free patients, seven were ctDNA-positive postsurgery, and only one of them had a match among the tumor variants. These findings suggest serial ctDNA analysis may enable earlier detection of systemic relapse in patients with operable breast cancer.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsCirculating Tumor DNAEarly Detection of CancerNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBiomarkers, TumorCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansMiddle AgedMutationBiomarkers, TumorCirculating Tumor DNAbreast cancercirculating tumor DNAliquid biopsyminimal residual diseaserelapse

Identifiers

PMID41307327
PMCPMC13060637

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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.