Meetings

Conference abstracts

81 public abstracts from 2021 to 2026. Findings are the abstract’s own wording. Level 1 items, where ctDNA or MRD assigned treatment or surveillance, have a coral bar. Slide and poster links, when added, may require an ASCO or ESMO member login.

27 abstracts

Level 3ESMO Congress 2026
Novel error-corrected tumor-informed whole-genome sequencing ctDNA analysis improves postoperative MRD detection in stage II-III colorectal cancer
Maria Honholt Jorgensen · Abstract 4273P · Poster
PosterPoster PDF. An ASCO or ESMO member login may be required.
Level 3ESMO Congress 2026
Postoperative TAV16 ctDNA detects molecular residual disease and predicts relapse after pancreatic cancer resection
Miguel García Bartolomé · Abstract 3192eP · ePoster
PosterPoster PDF. An ASCO or ESMO member login may be required.
Level 3ESMO Congress 2026
MUTE-Seq enables efficient single-digit-ppm tumor-informed ctDNA MRD monitoring in colorectal cancer
Junseok W Hur · Abstract 2446P · Poster
PosterPoster PDF. An ASCO or ESMO member login may be required.
Level 2ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress 2026
ctDNA status and adjuvant chemotherapy after resection of colorectal liver metastases: An overall survival analysis of the GALAXY study
Kozo Kataoka · Abstract 8O · Proffered Paper (oral) · GALAXY
Slides WebcastSlides + webcast. An ASCO or ESMO member login may be required.
Level 1negativeASCO Annual Meeting 2025
ctDNA-guided adjuvant chemotherapy escalation in stage III colon cancer: Primary analysis of the ctDNA-positive cohort from the randomized AGITG dynamic-III trial (intergroup study of AGITG and CCTG).
Tie, Jeanne · Abstract 3503 · DYNAMIC-III · 961 eligible randomized; 259 (27%) ctDNA-positive (this analysis). 115/129 in the ctDNA-informed arm received escalation (65 FOLFOXIRI).
tumor-informed (commercial name not stated in this abstract)
2-year RFS with ctDNA-informed escalation was 52% vs 61% with standard of care (HR 1.11, 90% CI 0.83-1.48; P=0.6). 3-year RFS was similar for FOLFOXIRI vs FOLFOX/CAPOX (47% vs 51%; HR 1.09, P=0.7). Recurrence risk increased with ctDNA burden (3-year RFS 78%, 63%, 36%, and 22% across MTM/mL quartiles; P<0.01). Escalation, including to FOLFOXIRI, did not improve RFS.
Full paper
Level 2prognosticASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2025
Circulating tumor DNA for detection of molecular residual disease (MRD) in patients (pts) with stage II/III colorectal cancer (CRC): Final analysis of the BESPOKE CRC sub-cohort.
Shah, Purvi K. · Abstract 15 · BESPOKE CRC · 1,001 in the sub-cohort; 625 (62.4%) received ACT; MRD-window results in 420 stage II and 505 stage III
Signatera (tumor-informed)
MRD-window ctDNA positivity was 8.1% (34/420) in stage II and 24.9% (126/505) in stage III, with DFS HR 10.4 and 10.1, respectively (both P<0.0001). Combined 24-month DFS was 91.7% if MRD-negative vs 41.4% if MRD-positive. During surveillance, conversion to ctDNA-positive was associated with markedly worse DFS in both observation and ACT-treated patients (stage II observation HR 34.9; stage III ACT HR 54.6).
Level 1negativeASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2025
A randomized, double-blind, phase III study comparing trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) versus placebo in patients with molecular residual disease following curative resection of colorectal cancer (CRC): The ALTAIR study.
Bando, Hideaki · Abstract LBA22 · LBA · ALTAIR (CIRCULATE-Japan) · 243 randomized (122 FTD/TPI, 121 placebo); 96.3% had received standard-of-care postoperative therapy
Signatera (Natera), personalized tumor-informed
Median DFS was 9.30 vs 5.55 months (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.60-1.05; P=0.107); the primary endpoint was not met. The abstract reports a more pronounced benefit in resected oligometastatic stage IV disease and a trend toward greater DFS benefit at higher baseline MTM/mL. Grade >=3 adverse events occurred in 73.0% vs 3.3%. OS data were immature (24 events).
Full paper
Level 1mixedESMO Congress 2025
LBA9 ctDNA-guided adjuvant chemotherapy de-escalation in stage III colon cancer: Primary analysis of the ctDNA-negative cohort from the randomized AGITG DYNAMIC-III trial (Intergroup study of AGITG and CCTG)
Tie, J. · Abstract LBA9 · LBA · DYNAMIC-III · 702 ctDNA-negative of 968 evaluable (72.5%); 353 ctDNA-guided, 349 standard; median follow-up 45 months
tumor-informed (testing 5-6 weeks post-surgery; commercial name not stated in the abstract)
Protocol de-escalation occurred in 90.4%. Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy use fell (34.8% vs 88.6%, P<0.001), as did grade 3+ adverse events of special interest (6.2% vs 10.6%, P=0.037) and treatment-related hospitalization (8.5% vs 13.2%, P=0.048). Non-inferiority of 3-year RFS was not confirmed (85.3% vs 88.1%; difference -2.8%; 97.5% lower CI -8.0%; NI margin 7.5%). A pre-planned subgroup of clinically low-risk T1-3N1 tumors had difference -2.2% (97.5% lower CI -7.2%), within the NI margin.
Full paper Slides WebcastSlides + webcast. An ASCO or ESMO member login may be required.
Level 1mixedESMO Congress 2025
723O Post-surgical liquid biopsy-guided treatment of stage III and high-risk stage II colon cancer patients: Final results of the PEGASUS trial
Marsoni, S. · Abstract 723O · oral · PEGASUS · 135 patients (100 liquid-biopsy-negative, 35 positive); median follow-up 33.5 months
Guardant Reveal (v L1.2)
Among patients with two consecutive post-surgical negative tests, 12 relapses occurred, for a 2-year no-evidence-of-disease rate of 88% (90% CI 81-93). The predefined feasibility threshold (fewer than 14 relapses among 134 negative patients to exclude 85% in favor of 92%) was not met, though the point estimate exceeded 85%. In the 35 positive patients, 13 (37%) relapsed; 2-year time-to-relapse was 87.6% vs 61.5% (HR 3.22, P=0.0013).
Slides WebcastSlides + webcast. An ASCO or ESMO member login may be required.
Level 1negativeESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress 2025
3O Association of ctDNA clearance with disease-free survival, safety, and quality of life from ctDNA-directed therapy: Findings from the ALTAIR study
Kotaka, M. · Abstract 3O · oral · ALTAIR (CIRCULATE-Japan) · n=243
Signatera (Natera)
ctDNA clearance at treatment completion was 17.2% with FTD/TPI vs 12.4% with placebo (P=0.367), a non-significant difference. Grade >=3 neutropenia occurred in 56.6% on FTD/TPI; 37.7% required dose reduction. Global health status declined at week 8 on FTD/TPI (P=0.028) but arms did not differ from week 24 onward. DFS results match the ASCO GI primary report (HR 0.79, P=0.107).
Full paper
Level 1positiveESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress 2025
LBA1 Dynamic circulating tumor DNA methylation monitoring guiding postoperative surveillance in non-metastatic colorectal cancer: Interim analysis of FIND trial
Peng, J. · Abstract LBA1 · LBA · FIND · 728 randomized (363 ctDNA-guided, 365 standard); interim, median follow-up 12 months
single-tube methylation-specific quantitative PCR (mqMSP) targeting 10 methylation markers (stated detection to 0.01% allelic fraction)
Cumulative recurrence rates did not differ (P=0.671 ITT). ctDNA-guided surveillance increased the proportion of recurrent patients who received curative-intent therapy (50.0% vs 22.6%; relative risk 2.214, 95% CI 1.060-4.780; P=0.034), the trial's primary endpoint. This is an interim analysis.
Level 1prognosticASCO Annual Meeting 2024
The potential role of serial circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing after upfront surgery to guide adjuvant chemotherapy for early stage pancreatic cancer: The AGITG DYNAMIC-Pancreas trial.
Lee, Belinda · Abstract 107 · DYNAMIC-Pancreas (AGITG) · 102 enrolled; 40 ctDNA-positive, 54 negative, 4 ineligible (no tumor mutation); median follow-up 36 months
tumor-informed (brand not named in the extracted results)
A tumor-informed approach was feasible (first draw at a median of 5 weeks). 40% were ctDNA-positive after resection, independent of usual clinicopathologic risk factors. Of 54 ctDNA-negative patients, 24 (44%) were de-escalated to a planned 3 months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Median RFS was 13 months if ctDNA-positive vs 22 months if negative (HR 0.52, P=0.003).
Level 1positiveASCO Annual Meeting 2024
Circulating tumor DNA analysis guiding adjuvant therapy in stage II colon cancer: Overall survival and updated 5-year results from the randomized DYNAMIC trial.
Tie, Jeanne · Abstract 108 · DYNAMIC · same randomized cohort; median follow-up 59.6 months
tumor-informed Safe-SeqS (as in the primary DYNAMIC report)
5-year RFS was 88% vs 87% (difference 1.1%, 95% CI -5.8% to 8.0%). 5-year OS was 93.8% vs 93.3% (HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.47-2.37; P=0.887). In treated ctDNA-positive patients, end-of-treatment clearance occurred in 35/40 (87.5%); 5-year RFS was 85.2% with clearance vs 20.0% with persistence (HR 15.4, P<0.001). Higher post-surgery mutant tumor molecules (>=0.38 MTM/mL) were associated with lower clearance and worse RFS.
Level 1mixedASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2024
Circulating tumor DNA analysis informing adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer: The randomized AGITG DYNAMIC-Rectal study.
Tie, Jeanne · Abstract 12 · DYNAMIC-Rectal · 230 eligible (155 ctDNA-guided, 75 standard); recruitment stopped early because of COVID-19 and uptake of total neoadjuvant therapy
tumor-informed (same program as DYNAMIC; commercial name not re-stated in the extracted results)
In the ctDNA-guided arm, 42/150 (28%) with successful testing were ctDNA-positive. Adjuvant chemotherapy was used in 46% vs 77% (P<0.001). 3-year RFS was 76% vs 82% (difference 6%, 95% CI -6% to 17%). The abstract states the sample size precludes conclusions about non-inferiority. Recurrence in untreated ctDNA-negative patients was often lung-only (12/15, 80%).
Level 2prognosticASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2024
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for informing adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in stage II/III colorectal cancer (CRC): Interim analysis of BESPOKE CRC study.
Kasi, Pashtoon Murtaza · Abstract 9 · BESPOKE CRC · 154 stage II and 196 stage III in this interim subset; MRD results in 295; median follow-up 24.8 months
Signatera (tumor-informed)
MRD positivity was 15.6% (46/295; 6.9% stage II, 22.4% stage III) and was associated with inferior DFS (HR 20.8, 95% CI 10.0-43.4). Within the MRD-positive group, patients who received ACT had longer DFS than those observed (median 18.7 vs 6.7 months; HR 3.9, P=0.01). No ACT benefit was observed in MRD-negative patients (HR 1.1, P=0.89). Treatment was not randomized.
Level 2prognosticASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2024
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamics in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with molecular residual disease: Updated analysis from GALAXY study in the CIRCULATE-JAPAN.
Yukami, Hiroki · Abstract 6 · GALAXY (CIRCULATE-Japan) · 2,518 analyzed of 3,034 enrolled; MRD-window results in 2,093 (309 [14.8%] positive)
Signatera (tumor-informed)
MRD-positive patients had inferior DFS (HR 15.75, 95% CI 12.59-19.68, P<0.0001). Those who remained positive 3 months after MRD detection were more than 5 times as likely to recur as those with clearance (HR 5.4, P<0.0001). Of 181 MRD-positive patients who received adjuvant therapy, 72.9% had clearance; 54% of those with later samples had sustained clearance, which was associated with far better outcomes than transient clearance (HR 32.57). A 50% or greater drop in MTM/mL at 6 months among treated MRD-positive patients was associated with better DFS (HR 2.39, P=0.004).
Full paper
Level 1negativeASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2024
Phase II results of circulating tumor DNA as a predictive biomarker in adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II colon cancer: NRG-GI005 (COBRA) phase II/III study.
Morris, Van K. · Abstract 5 · NRG-GI005 (COBRA) · 635 randomized (318 observation, 317 ctDNA-directed); phase II clearance analysis used the first 16 patients with baseline ctDNA detected
Guardant LUNAR (mutations plus colon cancer-specific methylation)
Clearance of ctDNA at 6 months was observed in 3/7 (43%) in the observation arm and 1/9 (11%) in the chemotherapy arm (P=0.98). The phase II endpoint was not met; enrollment was halted under prespecified stopping rules based on the original assay. No improvement in clearance was seen after 6 months of chemotherapy in ctDNA-detected resected stage IIA colon cancer. The abstract notes future integral-biomarker trials must account for assay specificity in this population.
Level 2ESMO Congress 2024
Association of ctDNA-based MRD detection and MRD clearance with short-term overall survival in resectable colorectal cancer: Updated analysis of CIRCULATE-Japan GALAXY
Jun Nagata · Abstract 553P · Poster · CIRCULATE-Japan GALAXY
PosterPoster PDF. An ASCO or ESMO member login may be required.
Level 2ESMO Congress 2024
Association between copy number aberration and ctDNA MRD in colorectal cancer: CIRCULATE-Japan GALAXY
Tomoya Harima · Abstract 555P · Poster · CIRCULATE-Japan GALAXY
PosterPoster PDF. An ASCO or ESMO member login may be required.
Level 2ESMO Congress 2024
Survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy based on MRD detection in resected colorectal liver metastases: Subgroup analysis from CIRCULATE-Japan GALAXY
Kozo Kataoka · Abstract 558P · Poster · CIRCULATE-Japan GALAXY
PosterPoster PDF. An ASCO or ESMO member login may be required.
Level 2prognosticASCO Annual Meeting 2023
Circulating tumor DNA dynamics as an early predictor of recurrence in patients with radically resected colorectal cancer: Updated results from GALAXY study in the CIRCULATE-Japan.
Oki, Eiji · Abstract 3521 · GALAXY (CIRCULATE-Japan) · 2,083 analyzed of 3,615 enrolled; median follow-up 16.3 months
Signatera (tumor-informed)
286/2,083 (14%) were ctDNA-positive at the 4-week MRD timepoint and had inferior DFS (HR 12, 95% CI 9.1-15; P<0.0001). Versus patients who stayed negative (n=1,529), conversion from negative to positive (n=112) had HR 14.5 and persistent positivity (n=124) had HR 25.4. Median lead time from ctDNA to radiographic recurrence was 142 days among protocol-imaged recurrences.
Full paper
Level 1mixedESMO Congress 2023
LBA28 The PEGASUS trial: Post-surgical liquid biopsy-guided treatment of stage III and high-risk stage II colon cancer patients
Lonardi, S. · Abstract LBA28 · LBA · PEGASUS · 135 patients; median follow-up 20.8 months at this report
Guardant Reveal (v L1.2)
Post-surgery ctDNA was detected in 35/135 (26%). Relapse occurred in 12/35 (34%) ctDNA-positive vs 9/100 (9%) ctDNA-negative patients (HR 4.37, P=0.0003); the 9 negative relapses were the prespecified false-negative count. After 3 months of CAPOX, 11/35 positive patients converted to negative, but 8/11 later relapsed or re-positivized. Of 23 who received FOLFIRI after CAPOX, 11 converted and were relapse-free at analysis.
Slides WebcastSlides + webcast. An ASCO or ESMO member login may be required.
Level 1positiveASCO Annual Meeting 2022
Adjuvant chemotherapy guided by circulating tumor DNA analysis in stage II colon cancer: The randomized DYNAMIC trial.
Tie, Jeanne · Abstract LBA100 · LBA · DYNAMIC · 455 randomized (302 ctDNA-guided, 153 standard management)
tumor-informed Safe-SeqS (named in the abstract)
Fewer patients in the ctDNA-guided arm received adjuvant chemotherapy (15.3% vs 27.9%; odds ratio 2.14; P=0.002). ctDNA-guided management was non-inferior for 2-year RFS (93.5% vs 92.4%; difference 1.1%, 95% CI -4.1% to 6.2%). After chemotherapy, 3-year RFS in ctDNA-positive patients was 86.4%; without chemotherapy, 3-year RFS in ctDNA-negative patients was 92.5% (96.7% in clinically low-risk disease).
Full paper
Level 2prognosticASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2022
Association of circulating tumor DNA dynamics with clinical outcomes in the adjuvant setting for patients with colorectal cancer from an observational GALAXY study in CIRCULATE-Japan.
Kotaka, Masahito · Abstract 9 · GALAXY (CIRCULATE-Japan) · 1,365 patients enrolled June 2020-April 2021 (this analysis); median follow-up 6.6 months
Signatera (tumor-informed)
6-month DFS by 4-to-12-week ctDNA dynamics: 98% if negative-to-negative (n=618), 100% if positive-to-negative (n=58), 59% if negative-to-positive (n=32), and 45% if positive-to-positive (n=78); HR 52.3 comparing conversion to clearance vs persistent positivity (P<0.001). Among 4-week MRD-positive patients, 12-week clearance was 57% (54/95) with adjuvant chemotherapy vs 8% (7/93) without (P<0.001). 6-month DFS in 4-week MRD-positive patients was 84% vs 34% with vs without ACT (HR 0.15, P<0.001).
Full paper
Level 3ESMO Congress 2022
A tumor-informed, hybrid-capture ctDNA assay for MRD detection in colorectal cancer after curative surgery
Sae-Won Han · Abstract 381P · Poster
PosterPoster PDF. An ASCO or ESMO member login may be required.
Level 2ESMO Congress 2022
Tumour-naïve ctDNA analysis in resected colorectal cancer in the phase III ASCOLT trial
Daphne Day · Abstract 380P · Poster · ASCOLT
PosterPoster PDF. An ASCO or ESMO member login may be required.
Level 2positiveASCO Annual Meeting 2021
Phase II study of anti-EGFR rechallenge therapy with panitumumab driven by circulating tumor DNA molecular selection in metastatic colorectal cancer: The CHRONOS trial.
Sartore-Bianchi, Andrea · Abstract 3506 · CHRONOS · 52 screened by liquid biopsy; 36 (69%) negative for RAS/BRAF/EGFR mutations; 27 enrolled and treated
ctDNA genotyping for RAS/BRAF/EGFR mutations (assay brand not named in the extracted results)
The primary endpoint was met: partial response in 8/27 (ORR 30%, 95% CI 12-47%). Disease control (PR plus SD lasting more than 4 months) was 59%. Median PFS was 16 weeks. This is metastatic anti-EGFR rechallenge guided by ctDNA resistance mutations, not adjuvant MRD.