Dr. Bach Discusses Ongoing Research With ctDNA in CRC

Sander Bach, MD, PhD, ​a research associate in the Department of Surgery at Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, discusses ongoing research with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in colorectal cancer (CRC).

There are numerous trials evaluating the utility of ctDNA in patients with CRC, says Bach, ​who adds that the Universitair Medische Centra laboratories are also conducting research in this space.

There was a lack of available literature regarding aberrations in ctDNA ​when initial research began, explains Bach. Ongoing clinical trials are now looking at ctDNA as a way to stratify patients for additional therapy.

​Although those results are starting to be presented, they have not yet demonstrated the power of ctDNA.

However, ctDNA appears to be advantageous in that less blood and DNA is required ​for testing. Additionally, ctDNA analysis appears to have higher sensitivity compared with methylation analysis, Bach concludes.