Current Oncology Reports最新文献

{"title":"What are the Unmet Needs in Managing Digestive Neuroendocrine Carcinomas?","authors":"Halfdan Sorbye, Mairéad G McNamara, Margot Et Tesselaar, Mauro Cives, Stian Knappskog, Aurel Perren, Jonathan Strosberg","doi":"10.1007/s11912-026-01833-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11912-026-01833-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>This review highlights the major unmet needs in diagnosis and treatment of digestive neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC) and describes the current and evolving evidence on these aspects.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Improved pathological criteria are needed to accurately diagnose NEC and distinguish this entity from high-grade well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours as well as from adenocarcinoma. Studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying the extreme aggressiveness of the disease are ongoing. Data are lacking on optimal selection of patients with locoregional disease for primary tumour surgery and use of adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment. For patients with metastatic disease, there has been no improvement in systemic treatment over the last two decades and immunotherapy has limited benefit. Novel antigen-directed strategies targeting DLL3 are evolving. Digestive NEC are among the most aggressive cancers and prognosis remains poor. There have been only minor improvements over the last two decades. To improve diagnosis and therapy, the unmet needs discussed in this review must be addressed.</p>","PeriodicalId":10861,"journal":{"name":"Current Oncology Reports","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13582160/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148981999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gender, Sex and Other Factors in the Development of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.","authors":"Reece Abrahall, Mohamed Mortagy, Yooyun Chung, John Ramage, Rajaventhan Srirajaskanthan, Benjamin White","doi":"10.1007/s11912-026-01832-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11912-026-01832-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>To examine how biological sex and gender influence the tumorigenesis of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN), integrating epidemiological evidence with hormonal, molecular, lifestyle and environmental factors.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Recent population-based studies demonstrate sex differences in NEN incidence, pathological characteristics and survival across multiple anatomical sites. Emerging evidence suggests that sex-hormone signalling, epigenetic regulation and the tumour microenvironment may contribute to these differences. Lifestyle and metabolic factors, including smoking and obesity, may further modify NEN susceptibility and interact with sex- and gender-related factors. Biological sex appears to be an important modifier of NEN development rather than simply a demographic characteristic. However, mechanistic evidence remains limited and the contribution of gender is poorly characterised. Prospective, sex-stratified studies integrating hormonal, molecular and environmental data are required to clarify these interactions and their potential clinical relevance.</p>","PeriodicalId":10861,"journal":{"name":"Current Oncology Reports","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148975958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Oral Microbiome in Oral Cavity Cancer: Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Implications.","authors":"Katarzyna Pazdro-Zastawny, Marcin Kos, Anna Leszczyszyn, Tomasz Zawadzki, Kacper Pietruszka, Karolina Dorobisz","doi":"10.1007/s11912-026-01818-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11912-026-01818-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Oral cavity cancer (OCC) is a significant clinical challenge within head and neck oncology. It is characterized by significant morbidity, high recurrence rates, and only modest improvements in long-term survival over recent decades. Recent advances in metagenomics and high-throughput sequencing have revealed that oral microbial dysbiosis contributes to tumorigenesis, highlighting the potential of microbiome-derived biomarkers for early detection and prognosis of OCC. The purpose of the work is to discuss oral microbiome alterations in OCC.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>The microbiome plays a crucial role in regulating the host's physiological, immunological, and metabolic functions. Changes in the composition of the microbiome can influence our health status of local diseases of the oral cavity and oropharynx, as well as systemic diseases. In recent years, the role of the oral microbiome in oral potentially malignant disorders progression and OCC development has been emphasized. Changes in the oral and gut microbiome can lead to the induction of chronic inflammation, modulation of the immune system, and the production of carcinogenic metabolites. Dysbiosis can lead to critical inflammatory responses and consequently contribute to neoplastic events. Microbiome-modulating therapies tailored to the patient's individual profile and aimed at improving cancer treatment outcomes are being introduced, including the introduction of antibiotics to reduce harmful bacteria. Identification of new biomarkers in oral microbiota communities and development of therapeutic strategies in relation with oral microbiota in the future may be one of the pillars of the oral cancer diagnosis and treatment strategy. Oral cancer prevention protocols should include the improvement of oral hygiene as an element of the prevention and treatment of periodontitis. An introduction of microbiota-targeted interventions, including probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary strategies, may reduce the toxicity of radiotherapy, leading to improved patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":10861,"journal":{"name":"Current Oncology Reports","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13578119/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148975998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Navigating Antibody-Drug Conjugate Sequencing in Gastric Cancer: Cross-Resistance Biology, Target Switching, and Decision-Making Frameworks for the Post-Progression Landscape.","authors":"Yue Wu","doi":"10.1007/s11912-026-01826-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11912-026-01826-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have reshaped the therapeutic landscape of advanced gastric cancer, with trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) and disitamab vedotin (RC48) establishing new standards for HER2-positive disease, and a wave of Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2)-directed ADCs demonstrating promising early efficacy. However, as the arsenal of effective ADCs expands, clinicians increasingly confront a question that existing guidelines leave unanswered: how should ADCs be sequenced after disease progression?</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>This review synthesizes the emerging biology of ADC cross-resistance in gastric cancer, with particular attention to payload-specific resistance mediated by ABC transporters, the impact of linker technology on bystander killing, and the implications of target expression dynamics for sequencing decisions. We critically appraise the evidence for target switching from HER2 to CLDN18.2, highlighting the mutual exclusivity of these targets and the critical gap posed by the exclusion of HER2-positive patients from most CLDN18.2 ADC trials. We further evaluate the role of dynamic re-biopsy and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in real-time monitoring of target evolution. We propose a three-pillar decision-making framework integrating cross-resistance risk stratification, target landscape reassessment, and patient-clinician shared decision-making, accompanied by four practical sequencing scenarios. This framework is intended as a conceptual scaffold to guide clinical reasoning while awaiting the prospective trials urgently needed to establish evidence-based sequencing strategies in gastric adenocarcinoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":10861,"journal":{"name":"Current Oncology Reports","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148911023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Artificial Intelligence for Diagnosis, Risk Stratification, and Prognosis of Neuroblastoma - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Daniel Rodrigo Serbena, Isabela Luiza Fraron Cieslack, Renan Cassiano Ratis, Débora Van Putten Chaves, Sergio Servilha de Oliveira Filho, Henrique Neves, Fernando Sluchensci Dos Santos, Daniel Roberto Cassar, Weber Claudio da Silva, Juliana Sartori Bonini","doi":"10.1007/s11912-026-01824-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11912-026-01824-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To synthesizes evidence on artificial intelligence (AI) performance in neuroblastoma (NB) diagnosis, risk stratification, prognosis, and genomic characterization.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42024539475) across five databases. Meta-analyses used random-effects models with logit-transformed Area Under the Curve (AUCs) and cluster-robust standard errors. AI models were classified as Machine Learning Models (MLM) or Hybrid Nomograms (HN) based on their construction methodology.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 3,742 articles identified, 53 were included. MLMs demonstrated higher point estimates than radiologists in differential diagnosis (AUC: 0.87 vs. 0.83), though this difference was not statistically significant and carried substantial uncertainty. HNs achieved stronger performance in risk stratification (AUC: 0.87). AI-derived nomograms (AUC: 0.9) and gene signatures (AUC: 0.8) outperformed conventional prognostic markers descriptively. Chemotherapy response prediction remained below clinical utility thresholds across all model types. Only 33.9% of models reported calibration and 24.5% underwent external validation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>AI demonstrates proof-of-concept across multiple NB clinical domains. However, clinical adoption remains premature given persistent gaps in external validation, calibration, dataset size, and pediatric-specific model development. Future studies should test these models prospectively in multicenter pediatric cohorts, ideally through COG or SIOPEN, using shared definitions for diagnosis, risk group, treatment response, and survival outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":10861,"journal":{"name":"Current Oncology Reports","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13545110/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148891219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tele-Oncology in the Post-Pandemic Era: Clinical Integration, Access Disparities and Medico-Legal Accountability.","authors":"Dimitrios Stylianakis, Serafina Martella, Josie Pearce, Alexia Tomara, Michele Porcu, Christos Tsagkaris, Ioannis Stylianakis, Nerina Denaro, Matteo Lambertini, Luca Saba, Mario Scartozzi, Cinzia Solinas, Marco Soddu","doi":"10.1007/s11912-026-01827-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11912-026-01827-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of the review: </strong>Tele-health has evolved from a marginal tool confined to rural populations and selected follow-up programs into a structurally integrated component of modern cancer care. Prior to COVID-19, its adoption was constrained by regulatory fragmentation, non-uniform reimbursement, and licensure barriers. This narrative review evaluates the evolutionary integration of tele-health in oncology post-COVID-19, examines digital disparities across patient populations, and addresses the medico-legal implications of this integration, with the objective of providing a comprehensive and clinically actionable framework for the governance of virtual oncology care.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>The pandemic acted as a global catalyst, driving telehealth to over 50% of oncology outpatient encounters in some settings, before stabilising post-pandemic at approximately 10-20% of consultations within hybrid care models. Evidence supports meaningful clinical benefits - improved access to specialist services, reduced travel burden, and sustained continuity of care - with outcomes comparable to in-person care in postoperative follow-up, symptom monitoring, and survivorship. However, persistent disparities in device availability, connectivity, and digital literacy disproportionately affect older, rural, and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients, raising the risk that geographic inequalities are replaced by technological ones. From a medico-legal standpoint, the remote modality does not modify the applicable standard of care, yet restricted physical examination and reliance on patient-reported data introduce risks of diagnostic delay and incomplete clinical assessment, with direct implications for professional liability, data protection under HIPAA and GDPR, cross-border licensure, and multi-party accountability across physicians, institutions, and technology providers. Tele-oncology has become a permanent structural feature of modern cancer care, offering demonstrable benefits in access, continuity, and patient satisfaction. Yet its integration has been uneven, its governance remains fragmented, and its medico-legal landscape is still evolving. Realising the full potential of virtual oncology care - equitably and safely - requires coherent regulatory frameworks, sustained investment in digital infrastructure, and explicit attention to the populations at greatest risk of being left behind.</p>","PeriodicalId":10861,"journal":{"name":"Current Oncology Reports","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148873212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of Interventional Oncology in the Management of Neuroendocrine Tumors: 2026 Update.","authors":"Daniel M DePietro, Michael C Soulen","doi":"10.1007/s11912-026-01822-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11912-026-01822-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Summarize recent advances in interventional oncology for the management of neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases (NETLMs), with a focus on evolving evidence for embolization and ablation, integration with systemic therapies, and emerging approaches.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Recent studies have strengthened the role of liver-directed therapies within multidisciplinary NET care. Long-term data supports transarterial chemoembolization as an effective and repeatable line of therapy. Improved dosimetry techniques are refining radioembolization's role in NETLM treatment, improving outcomes while limiting long-term toxicities. Synergistic treatment combinations have demonstrated promising efficacy. New evidence for focal therapies, including radiation segmentectomy and histotripsy, may expand options for solitary and oligometastatic disease. Concurrent biopsy and molecular profiling increasingly inform treatment decisions. Interventional radiologists play an increasingly important role in NETLM management by providing tailored and targeted liver-directed therapies, improving patient outcomes, delaying the start of systemic therapies, and integrating with NET treatment plans. Ongoing studies will further define optimal treatment sequencing and patient selection while expanding interventional treatment options.</p>","PeriodicalId":10861,"journal":{"name":"Current Oncology Reports","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13522089/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148839380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Obesity Related Cancers: What We Know So Far.","authors":"Naga Praneeth Raja, Nagapavani Kandagari","doi":"10.1007/s11912-026-01825-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11912-026-01825-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Obesity increases the risk of at least 13 malignancies. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) produce substantial weight loss and improve metabolic and inflammatory pathways implicated in carcinogenesis. This review critically examines the preclinical, epidemiologic, randomized-trial, and emerging oncology evidence linking these agents to obesity-related cancer incidence and outcomes.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Large observational cohorts generally associate GLP-1RA exposure with a lower incidence of composite obesity-related cancers, with relative risk reductions of approximately 7-30% in most diabetes- and obesity-based populations. The most consistent favorable associations have been observed in hepatocellular, colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers. However, these findings remain vulnerable to residual confounding, comparator selection, surveillance bias, and insufficient follow-up. Meta-analyses of randomized trials have not demonstrated a significant reduction in overall cancer incidence and have reported inconsistent site-specific signals, including thyroid and colorectal cancer. Preclinical studies support both indirect metabolic effects and potentially direct tumor and immune effects through insulin/IGF-1, cAMP/PKA, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, AMPK, and NF-κB signaling. Early retrospective studies in patients with active cancer suggest possible associations with improved survival or reduced progression, but causality has not been established. GLP-1RAs should currently be prescribed for approved metabolic indications rather than specifically for cancer prevention or treatment. Their role as metabolic modifiers of cancer risk and outcomes is promising but unresolved. Long-term prospective studies with cancer-specific endpoints, body-composition assessment, and integrated tumor and host biomarkers are needed to identify which populations and tumor types may benefit.</p>","PeriodicalId":10861,"journal":{"name":"Current Oncology Reports","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148826038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Head and Neck Rhabdomyosarcoma in Children: An Otolaryngological Perspective on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches.","authors":"Agata Wojno, Milena Chmielewska, Sara Shefa, Oliwia Cichy, Paulina Lenkiewicz, Karolina Dorobisz","doi":"10.1007/s11912-026-01823-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11912-026-01823-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma (HNRMS) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in children, with approximately 30-40% of cases arising in the head and neck region. Due to its anatomical complexity, histopathological diversity, and molecular heterogeneity, HNRMS remains a major diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in pediatric otolaryngology. This review aims to summarize current evidence regarding the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic strategies, contemporary treatment modalities, and long-term complications associated with pediatric HNRMS.</p><p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong></p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Recent advances in molecular pathology have significantly improved risk stratification in rhabdomyosarcoma, particularly through the identification of FOXO1 fusion status as a key prognostic marker. Modern imaging techniques, especially magnetic resonance imaging and PET-based assessment, have enhanced diagnostic precision and evaluation of local tumor extension. Contemporary multimodal treatment protocols combining chemotherapy, conservative surgery, and proton beam radiotherapy have improved survival outcomes while reducing treatment-related morbidity. Furthermore, growing attention has been directed toward survivorship issues, including craniofacial deformities, endocrine dysfunction, hearing impairment, and secondary malignancies. The prognosis of pediatric HNRMS depends strongly on tumor location, histological subtype, and molecular characteristics. Orbital tumors are associated with favorable outcomes, whereas parameningeal lesions continue to pose substantial therapeutic difficulties because of delayed diagnosis and proximity to critical anatomical structures. Early recognition, accurate histopathological and molecular diagnosis, and individualized multidisciplinary treatment are essential to optimize survival and minimize long-term complications. Ongoing developments in targeted therapy and proton radiotherapy may further improve both oncological outcomes and quality of life in affected children. This review is important because it integrates current molecular, diagnostic, and therapeutic advances in pediatric HNRMS from an otolaryngological perspective, highlighting both survival outcomes and long-term quality-of-life considerations. Moreover, it emphasizes the need for early multidisciplinary management in anatomically complex head and neck tumors, which remains crucial for improving prognosis and reducing treatment-related morbidity.</p>","PeriodicalId":10861,"journal":{"name":"Current Oncology Reports","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13503396/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148812319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Minimal Residual Disease in Head and Neck Cancer: Molecular Surveillance and Clinical Action.","authors":"Sholem Hack, Eran E Alon, Eric Remer","doi":"10.1007/s11912-026-01816-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-026-01816-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Recurrence following curative-intent treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) approaches 50% in locally advanced disease, yet conventional surveillance detects relapse only after anatomical or metabolic thresholds are reached. Minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring, using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and viral DNA biomarkers, offers an earlier, molecularly informed framework for post-treatment surveillance. This structured narrative review synthesizes contemporary evidence on MRD in HNSCC, drawing on a search of PubMed and Scopus covering January 2020 to March 2026, and defines its role as a clinical instrument for risk-adapted surveillance and decision-making.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Across prospective cohorts and platform-validation studies, MRD positivity is independently associated with recurrence risk, with hazard ratios ranging from 3- to tenfold across tumor-informed ctDNA platforms, and molecular relapse frequently precedes radiologic detection by months. Viral DNA assays demonstrate specificities exceeding 95% in virally mediated subtypes. Early interventional data suggest potential for MRD-guided treatment adaptation, but results have been mixed: a recent HPV ctDNA-guided de-escalation trial closed early due to an unacceptable recurrence rate, underscoring that standardized thresholds, optimal testing intervals, and definitive evidence of clinical utility remain unresolved. MRD should currently be integrated as an adjunct to established surveillance modalities rather than a standalone trigger for intervention. Results are best interpreted longitudinally, and an early post-treatment molecular checkpoint at 2-6 weeks represents a high-yield decision point where confirmed positivity may justify intensified evaluation and multidisciplinary review.</p>","PeriodicalId":10861,"journal":{"name":"Current Oncology Reports","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148812303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}