Circulating Tumour DNA Testing Gains Attention for Monitoring Colorectal Cancer After Surgery

Colorectal cancer develops in the colon or rectum and remains an important cause of cancer-related illness worldwide. Surgery can remove the visible tumour in many patients, but some may still have microscopic cancer cells remaining in the body.

Conventional follow-up commonly involves clinical examinations, blood tests, imaging and colonoscopy. However, these methods may not always identify molecular evidence of residual disease at an early stage.

Circulating tumour DNA, or ctDNA, refers to small fragments of genetic material released into the bloodstream by cancer cells. Specialised laboratory tests can detect tumour-related genetic changes in blood samples.

The newly published review examines how ctDNA-guided surveillance could help clinicians identify patients who may have residual disease after surgery. It also considers how molecular results might support personalised follow-up strategies and decisions about additional treatment.

The approach is promising, but a positive ctDNA result does not automatically establish where cancer is located or prove that a particular treatment will improve survival. Testing methods, timing and clinical interpretation remain important.

The research highlights the growing role of precision oncology in monitoring patients after colorectal cancer surgery.