Hui Xu

Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Hexi, 300210, Tianjin, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Clinical Case Reports, 2026, Vol. 16, No. 1   
Received: 16 Nov., 2025    Accepted: 21 Dec., 2025    Published: 03 Jan., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This study explores the latest advancements in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing and discusses the clinical significance of ctDNA-based minimal residual disease (ctDNA-MRD). As a liquid biopsy marker, ctDNA-MRD can capture the signals of trace residual diseases at the molecular level and is gradually being used to assess the risk of recurrence and guide follow-up management. Numerous studies have shown that patients with positive ctDNA test results after treatment are more likely to experience recurrence and have poorer survival outcomes. In many cases, the changes in ctDNA prece de imaging findings, providing doctors with earlier reference for adjusting treatment plans and follow-up strategies. In practical applications, ctDNA-MRD also has certain limitations. Factors such as individual biological differences, low ctDNA release levels, clonal hematopoiesis interference, and differences in detection platforms can all affect the accuracy of the results, potentially leading to false negatives or false positives. If one relies too heavily on a single test result, it may result in insufficient or excessive treatment. ctDNA is suitable for dynamic monitoring, while imaging is still indispensable for locating lesions. The combined application of the two is considered a more reliable approach. With further clinical validation, ctDNA-MRD is expected to gradually evolve fro m a predictive indicator to a more practically meaningful decision support tool. 

Circulating tumor DNA; Minimal residual disease; Early-stage solid tumors; Molecular relapse; Imaging integration