Using blood tests to assess early treatment response in cancer patients

Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) for Early Treatment Response Assessment of Solid Tumors

Observational Washington University School of Medicine · NCT04354064

This study is testing if blood tests that look for cancer DNA can help doctors see how well treatment is working for patients with different types of solid tumors.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment100 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorWashington University School of Medicine Academic / other
Locations1 site (St Louis, Missouri)
Trial IDNCT04354064 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in detecting early treatment responses in patients with various solid tumors, including prostate, head and neck, esophageal, and genitourinary cancers. By identifying molecular residual disease (MRD) through ctDNA analysis, the study seeks to enhance cancer diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance, ultimately guiding clinical decision-making in personalized medicine. The findings could pave the way for future interventional trials that escalate therapy based on early ctDNA detection.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study include healthy volunteers aged 18 and older, as well as patients diagnosed with the specified solid tumors.

Not a fit: Patients younger than 18 years old will not benefit from this study as they are excluded from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to earlier detection of cancer recurrence, providing patients with more treatment options and potentially improving outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies utilizing ctDNA for early detection and monitoring of cancer have shown promising results, indicating that this approach is gaining traction in the field.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Eligible healthy donors will be at least 18 years of age.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Healthy donors younger than 18 years of age

Where this trial is running

St Louis, Missouri

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Healthy VolunteerProstate CancerHead and Neck CancerEsophageal CancerGenitourinary CancerSarcomaBreast CancerColon Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.