James Rocco: ctDNA redefines treatment for HPV-associated OPSCC
James Rocco, Chairman of Otolaryngology-HNS, OSUWMC at The Ohio State University, posted the following on LinkedIn:
“Spotlight on a Game-Changing Pilot Study in HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer!
Our team at The Ohio State University Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery recently contributed to a pivotal study led by senior author Dr. Catherine Haring and collaborators across radiation and medical oncology. This work, published in Oral Oncology, explores the potential of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to redefine how we assess treatment response in patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).
Key Findings:
1. CtDNA clearance after induction chemotherapy (IC) was a stronger predictor of disease control following chemoradiation (CRT) than standard imaging with PET-CT.
2. While only 5.9% of patients showed complete response by PET-CT after IC, a remarkable 52.9% achieved complete molecular response through ctDNA testing.
3. Patients with ctDNA clearance after IC were significantly more likely to remain disease-free after CRT.
This study highlights the transformative potential of liquid biomarkers in personalizing cancer treatment, offering a more precise tool for identifying patients with a favorable prognosis early in their treatment journey. Congratulations to Dr. Haring and all the co-authors for this important step forward in advancing care for HPV-associated OPSCC! This work underscores Ohio State’s commitment to groundbreaking research and innovative clinical care.”
Authors: Zachary M. Huttinger, Emile Gogineni, Sujith Baliga, Dukagjin M. Blakaj, Priyanka Bhateja, Marcelo Bonomi, Stephen Y. Kang, Matthew O. Old, Nolan B. Seim, Kyle K. VanKoevering, Amit Agrawal, Enver Ozer, James W. Rocco, Catherine T. Haring
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