“[Although] not yet ready for prime time, ctDNA is being investigated as a very promising non-invasive plasma biomarker of invasive or advanced-stage upper tract urothelial carcinoma,” says Heather L. Huelster, MD.
In this video, Heather L. Huelster, MD, shares the take-home message from the recent European Urology study “Novel Use of Circulating Tumor DNA to Identify Muscle-invasive and Non–organ-confined Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.” Huelster is an assistant professor of urology at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis.
[Although] not yet ready for prime time, ctDNA is being investigated as a very promising non-invasive plasma biomarker of invasive or advanced-stage upper tract urothelial carcinoma. It has the potential to help us overcome some of these current obstacles in clinical staging unique to this disease space, and may help us identify the appropriate patients for referral to medical oncology and consideration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to planning for radical nephroureterectomy.
This transcription was edited for clarity.
Speaking of Urology Podcast: Dr. Ritch and Dr. Katz discuss new bladder cancer management app
December 7th 2021“It's not a replacement for clinical judgment, obviously. But at the end of the day, the idea is that it shows you what your next steps are based on what the American Urological Association and [Society of Urologic Oncology] guidelines are for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer,” Chad R. Ritch, MD, MBA, FACS.