Overview

• A study involving nearly 600 stage III melanoma patients confirmed that detectable circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) predicts an 80% likelihood of cancer recurrence.
• Patients with higher ctDNA levels experienced recurrence over four times faster than those without detectable levels, underscoring its prognostic value.
• The ctDNA blood test offers a direct measurement of tumor activity, outperforming traditional tissue-based methods in detecting melanoma recurrence.
• Researchers plan to improve the sensitivity of ctDNA tests and explore their use in guiding treatment decisions to improve patient outcomes.
• This landmark study, published in *The Lancet Oncology*, builds on prior ctDNA research and highlights its potential for routine clinical integration in oncology.