Dr. Raghav on the Utility of ctDNA in CRC

Kanwal Raghav, MBBS, MD, associate professor, Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the utility of circulating tumor (ct)DNA in colorectal cancer (CRC).

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has an ongoing study utilizing ctDNA in CRC, says Raghav. For the trial, investigators are examining salvage therapy with regorafenib (Stivarga) or TAS-102 (trifluridine/tipiracil; Lonsurf). Through the use of ctDNA, investigators hope to predict benefit from these agents early on, so patients with CRC do not have to be exposed to the drug for a prolonged period of time before investigators are able to determine whether a regimen is working or not. This helps preserve the clinical performance of the patient and reduce unnecessary toxicity, explains Raghav. With this knowledge, investigators can also restrict the use of these drugs to patients who are most likely to benefit, and that is a very powerful application of ctDNA, concludes Raghav.