ctDNA Assay Shows High Specificity for Post-Transplant Liver Cancer Recurrence

A personalized, tumor-informed circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) assay demonstrated 100% specificity and 75% sensitivity for detecting cancer recurrence after liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), according to findings from a prospective, single-center study published in the Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology.1 The study evaluated 100 ctDNA assays performed on 38 patients who underwent liver transplantation for primary liver cancer at Houston Methodist Hospital.

What were the key findings on ctDNA test performance?

Among the 38 patients, investigators performed 100 ctDNA assays, yielding 6 positive results, 85 negative results, and 9 results deemed insufficient to process (ITP). Recurrence occurred in 6 patients (15.8%); of these, ctDNA was positive in 3 patients, negative in 1, and ITP in 2.