Preoperative Tumor-Informed ctDNA for Prediction of Nodal Metastases at Radical Cystectomy in Bladder Cancer.
A simple blood test before bladder cancer surgery may safely identify patients who can skip lymph node removal, reducing surgical side effects.
In 40 prospectively enrolled bladder cancer patients undergoing cystectomy, preoperative tumor-informed ctDNA testing demonstrated high negative predictive value (96%) for lymph node metastases, with pooled validation in 149 patients confirming this. A ctDNA-negative result may safely guide omission of pelvic lymph node dissection, reducing surgical morbidity in the majority of patients.
What the study was
- Study design
- Prospective cohort study with pooled descriptive analysis
- Population
- Non-muscle-invasive and muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection
- Sample size
- 40
- Category
- Early Detection
- Maturity
- Validated
- Journal
- Annals of Surgical Oncology
Why it surfaced
Prospective validation of ctDNA for nodal staging in bladder cancer cystectomy; high NPV with actionable implication (LND omission strategy). Primary cohort n=40 is small but pooled validation strengthens findings.
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