Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41729350›Full record

SynthesisBreast cancer research and treatment2026

Prognostic significance of circulating tumor DNA in early breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

L Sisca, M G Polito, M Silletta, A La Cesa, R Scafetta, M Donato, C M Gullotta, A Guarino, G Barnini, E Speziale and 10 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Breast cancer research and treatment, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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

20 authors.

L Sisca *Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy. LUISANA.SISCA@UNICAMPUS.IT.
M G Polito *Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
M SillettaDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
A La CesaDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
R ScafettaDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
M DonatoDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
C M GullottaDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
A GuarinoDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
G BarniniDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
E SpezialeDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
R TroianoDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
S FoderaroDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
M IulianiDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
S SimonettiDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
S CavalieriDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
S CalagnaDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
A CortelliniDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
B VincenziDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
G ToniniDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.
F PantanoDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 200-00128, Rome, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCirculating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a promising noninvasive biomarker for monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) and predicting recurrence in early-stage breast cancer (EBC). Despite growing interest, the prognostic impact of ctDNA detection in this setting remains to be fully elucidated.

methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on prospective studies assessing the association between ctDNA positivity and outcomes in early or locally advanced non-metastatic breast cancer. Databases including PubMed and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched. Studies were included if they reported hazard ratios (HRs) for disease-free survival (DFS) and/or overall survival (OS) according to ctDNA status. Pooled HRs were calculated using random-effects models; heterogeneity was evaluated with the I

resultsEighteen studies comprising 1670 patients were included. ctDNA positivity was significantly associated with shorter DFS (pooled HR 6.92, 95% CI 3.64-13.13; p < 0.0001; I

conclusionsctDNA positivity is a robust prognostic biomarker for recurrence in early breast cancer. Its integration into post-treatment surveillance and interventional trials may enable risk-adapted strategies and early therapeutic intervention.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorBreast NeoplasmsCirculating Tumor DNANeoplasm Recurrence, LocalDisease-Free SurvivalFemaleHumansNeoplasm, ResidualNeoplasm StagingPrognosisBiomarkers, TumorCirculating Tumor DNACirculating tumor DNActDNADisease-free survivalEarly breast cancerMinimal residual diseasePrognostic biomarker

Identifiers

PMID41729350

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.