The role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in urothelial cancers.

Abstract

The role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in urothelial cancers is a rapidly evolving area of research. Urothelial cancer is the most common subtype of bladder cancer, and biomarkers that predict response or prognosticate outcomes have been long sought after. Tumor-informed ctDNA assays have been utilized in several other cancers and increasingly used in both muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) to inform treatment decision-making. While a universal consensus on ctDNA testing has not been fully defined and discussed herein, understanding its benefits and limitations is important to help guide the practical application in the clinic.