The potential of real-time dynamic disease monitoring with circulating tumor DNA: important lessons from Epstein-Barr virus-related nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Cancer research · Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Dynamic changes in cfEBV DNA during and after treatment have also been a topic of interest for some time with evidence suggesting an advantage in predicting the outcome of patients with EBV-related NPC receiving definitive curative therapy.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody and DNA tests have been extensively utilised and shown to have high sensitivity and specificity in detecting EBV-related nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). 1, 2, 3 EBV detection in NPC has evolved from a serological test to the detection of EBV viral cell free (cf) DNA. One primary utility of circulating cfEBV DNA has been in the monitoring of disease following therapy for the purpose of early detection of recurrence. 4 Other promising applications include population screening. 5 Dynamic changes in cfEBV DNA during and after treatment have also been a topic of interest for some time with evidence suggesting an advantage in predicting the outcome of patients with EBV-related NPC receiving definitive curative therapy. 3

Monitoring circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with EBV‑related nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) can provide real‑time insight into residual disease and the risk of recurrence, which may guide decisions about adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation dose escalation/de‑escalation.

Evidence level: Feltételezés / hírjelzés. Nincs önálló tudományos bizonyíték.

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