Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39840713›Full record

Observational studyMolecular oncology2025

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) trajectories predict survival in trifluridine/tipiracil-treated metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

Matthias Unseld, Stefan Kühberger, Ricarda Graf, Christine Beichler, Markus Braun, Nadia Dandachi, Ellen Heitzer, Gerald W Prager

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Molecular oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review of ctDNA in breast cancer - present utility and future perspectives.Reports of practical oncology and radiotherapy : journal of Greatpoland Cancer Center in Poznan and Polish Society of Radiation Oncology · 2026
    Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Matthias UnseldDivision of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Stefan KühbergerInstitute of Human Genetics, Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9063-1732
Ricarda GrafInstitute of Human Genetics, Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
Christine BeichlerInstitute of Human Genetics, Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
Markus BraunInstitute of Human Genetics, Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
Nadia DandachiDivision of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9093-0743
Ellen HeitzerInstitute of Human Genetics, Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8815-7859
Gerald W PragerDivision of Oncology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7854-7781

Funding

Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Late-line treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) can improve prognosis. However, not every patient has a benefit and may experience severe side effects. Thus, predictive/prognostic biomarkers are urgently needed. We investigated the prognostic role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in mCRC patients before and during treatment with trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI). This noninterventional translational biomarker phase II study enrolled 30 mCRC patients (60% male, 40% female). Using a 77-gene panel, ctDNA was detectable in 90% of patients. Tumor levels were assessed based on aneuploidy (ichorCNA) as well as the highest variant allele frequency, and correlated with overall survival (OS). Uni- and multivariate survival analyses were performed with clinical variables. Longitudinal changes in tumor levels over time were analyzed with linear mixed and joint models. The median OS was 8.1 months, with a recorded disease control rate of 30%. High ctDNA levels (≥ 5%) were associated with inferior survival after undergoing FTD/TPI therapy. Elevated tumor level trajectories over time were associated with higher risks of death. Therefore, ctDNA can help identify patients who are unlikely to benefit significantly from this treatment in late-stage disease, thus preventing unnecessary treatments and their associated side effects, ultimately enhancing quality of life.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsCirculating Tumor DNAColorectal NeoplasmsPyrrolidinesTrifluridineAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBiomarkers, TumorDrug CombinationsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisThymineBiomarkers, TumorCirculating Tumor DNADrug CombinationsPyrrolidinesThymineTrifluridinetrifluridine tipiracil drug combinationcirculating tumor DNAjoint modelmetastatic colorectal cancermixed modelmolecular profilingtrifluridine/tipiracil

Identifiers

PMID39840713
PMCPMC12234374

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.