Noninvasive cancer monitoring

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a blood-based biomarker correlated with patient survival, tumor load, and chemotherapeutic efficacy. However, the complexity of information contained in the blood limits our ability to detect ctDNA at the earliest stages of cancer progression. We are developing new techniques for longitudinal monitoring of the ctDNA present in the circulation of early stage cancer patients. Our research focuses primarily on pancreatic adenocarcinoma, where patients are at high risk of developing occult micrometastases yet few monitoring strategies exist.