Dr. Trent on the Role of ctDNA in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Jonathan C. Trent, MD, PhD, professor and associate director for Clinical Research at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Health System, discusses the role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in soft tissue sarcoma. 

ctDNA could ​play an important role in terms of therapy selection following imatinib (Gleevec) resistance, says Trent. 

For example, patients with secondary-resistant, KIT exon 13​–mutant gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) seem to be sensitive to sunitinib (Sutent), despite being resistant to other TKIs. 

Conversely, patients with KIT exon 17–mutant GIST​s who are resistant to imatinib seem to be resistant to sunitinib but sensitive to other TKIs, Trent concludes.