ASCO GI 2022 | The emerging role of ctDNA in the early diagnosis of GI cancers

Naureen Starling, BSc, FRCP, MD, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK talks on exploring the early detection of cancer with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Dr. Starling emphasizes the importance of sensitivity when using ctDNA for the early diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers prior to a patient exhibiting symptoms. There are several studies in action associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) screening as well as evaluating asymptomatic general population screening, such as a UK study of 140,000 asymptomatic subject aged 50-77 which is currently investigating the Galleri blood test developed by GRAIL. The NHS-Galleri trial will be determining whether screening via ctDNA will increase earlier detection of stage I and stage II cancers where treatment leads to higher cure rates and improved rates of cancer survival. Within the sphere of diagnostics, the COVID-19 pandemic elucidated a role for ctDNA assays within early diagnostics when the diagnostic capacity for GI cancer was reduced. The deployment of liquid biopsies may lead to a faster diagnoses for patients which was explored in a pilot study that took place during the pandemic, the result of which were presented at ASCO GI 2022. This interview took place at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2022.