Dr. Hubbard on Detecting Disease Progression in CRC

Joleen M. Hubbard, MD, an associate professor of oncology, consultant, practice chair, and vice chair of the Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology at Mayo Clinic, discusses identifying disease progression in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Patient symptoms, computed topography (CT) scans, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels are utilized to determine whether a patient with CRC is experiencing disease progression, Hubbard says. Although circulating tumor DNA is not currently being used to monitor disease progression, it may be used in future practice, Hubbard notes. 

Importantly, detecting progression prior to clinical or symptomatic evidence could lead to premature use of a therapy, which is not ideal when options for this patient population are limited, Hubbard explains. As such, symptoms, CT scans, and CEA levels remain the standard factors to consider when identifying progressive disease, Hubbard concludes.