A groundbreaking study reveals that a new blood test can detect fragments of tumor DNA in patients’ bloodstream, providing critical insights into the risk of melanoma recurrence. On April 15, The Lancet Oncology released pioneering research. It’s proof that a simple blood draw is all it takes to detect lingering signs of Stage III melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
Melanoma, particularly in Stage III, is a life-threatening health hazard. It can rapidly metastasize to other organs making it particularly pernicious. This new blood test detects circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in blood plasma. It performed better than previous methods in predicting cancer relapse after surgery.
When looking at patients the day after surgery, researchers discovered that 13% of patients still had detectable ctDNA in their blood plasma. Even more alarmingly, having detectable ctDNA showed a 100% positive predictive value for cancer returning. Every single patient that tested positive had a recurrence of melanoma. This deepens our understanding of the test’s remarkable accuracy in pinpointing those most at risk.
The same test provided a high accuracy rate of 71%. It successfully predicted the lack of cancer recurrence for patients with negative results. The results underscore that the test is a robust predictive tool to help detect patients who should be treated more intensively. It is not as reliable for eliminating the possibility of recurrence.
The research suggests that the new test would allow for more efficient and timely intervention for at-risk patients. Dr. Polsky envisions that “we’re envisioning the test being used to monitor patients over time (perhaps every month or couple of months in the first 1-3 years after surgery) for an early indication that the melanoma is recurring.” This more regular monitoring would give healthcare providers the ability to shift more rapidly to aggressive treatment regimens if needed.
Stage III melanoma only represents 1% of all skin cancers. It’s a grievous and shocking fact that it is responsible for the most skin cancer deaths. As a result of its propensity to metastasize, early detection is vital in order to provide effective treatment and positive patient outcomes. The introduction of this ctDNA test could provide healthcare providers with an invaluable tool for monitoring and managing patients after surgery.
This innovative test will be widely available with the help of clinical molecular pathology laboratories. This additional step helps the prescription become commonplace among healthcare professionals. The medical community is just now beginning to understand the impact of this research. Finding these small, easily overlooked tumors will be key to revolutionizing melanoma treatment.
