A caller study presented astatine nan International Association for nan Study of Lung Cancer 2025 World Conference connected Lung Cancer (WCLC) demonstrates that monitoring circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) tin refine and personalize nan usage of consolidation immunotherapy successful patients pinch limited-stage mini compartment lung crab (LS-SCLC).
The research, led by scientists astatine nan National Cancer Center of China, assessed ctDNA successful 177 patients pinch LS-SCLC treated pinch chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), 77 of whom received consolidation immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Circulating tumor DNA was measured astatine aggregate clip points to measure its expertise to foretell endurance outcomes and immunotherapy benefits.
This is nan first study to show that early ctDNA discovery aft induction chemotherapy tin thief place patients who are much apt to use from consolidation immunotherapy. It's a measurement toward precision immunotherapy successful limited-stage SCLC."
Dr. Nan Bi, from nan Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Key findings:
- Consolidation ICI improved wide endurance vs. CCRT unsocial (HR: 0.41; p = 0.031).
- Patients who were ctDNA-positive astatine post-induction had importantly amended PFS and OS pinch ICI compared to CCRT alone.
- ctDNA-negative patients did not show added use from ICI.
- Maintaining ctDNA negativity during immunotherapy was associated pinch amended prognosis.
- ctDNA astatine post-induction (t1) was much predictive of curen consequence than ctDNA post-radiotherapy (t2).
The study utilized next-generation sequencing (NGS) pinch a 139-gene lung crab sheet to measure ctDNA astatine ultra-deep sum (30,000×). Advanced statistical models including time-dependent Cox regression were employed to destruct immortal clip bias.
"These findings connection a compelling rationale for integrating ctDNA-based stratification successful early LS-SCLC tests and whitethorn thief guideline real-time decisions connected nan usage of consolidation ICIs," Dr. Bi said.