The detection of remaining tumor cells after surgery and/or therapy poses a challenge in the clinical context. This so-called minimal residual disease (MRD) can affect the course of the disease by advancing metastasis or relapse of the cancer. Therefore, it is important to detect the MRD as early, as confidently and as minimally invasively as possible. Liquid biopsy refers to the use of body fluids (for example the blood) and has opened a new diagnostic avenue in oncology. It is known that tumors and tumor cells shed minute amounts of DNA into the blood stream, called cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). However, despite many circulating tumor DNA diagnostics being developed, there is a lack of standardization, harmonization, and robust data to demonstrate clinical validity.
GUIDE.MRD aims to make use of the assessment of ctDNA in the blood as an MRD marker to improve the outcome of patients with colorectal cancer, lung cancer and pancreatic cancer, and to advance the personalized care of each patient.
The GUIDE.MRD project will examine ctDNA liquid biopsies with four main objectives:
1. Identify, compare and rank the best diagnostic tests available for ctDNA-based MRD testing.
2. Evaluate top-ranking ctDNA tests using clinical samples from lung, colon, and pancreatic cancer patients to develop a roadmap for using these tests in routine cancer patient care.
3. Assess how ctDNA tests can guide healthcare professionals into choosing the right treatments or multi-modal treatment combinations for their patients.
4. Reach a consensus with healthcare professionals, patient groups and other key stakeholders to implement ctDNA testing into clinical routine.
GUIDE.MRD is a consortium of leading academics, technology companies, pharmaceutical companies, and experts in multi-stakeholder engagements. With robust engagement with regulatory authorities, payers and importantly patients themselves, the consortium will develop recommendations and guidelines based on objective data to use ctDNA diagnostics to guide multi-modal therapy selection to improve patient outcomes.
