![Bone Cancers Without Biopsies]()
In a study involving patients with osteosarcoma, Einstein-Montefiore researchers have shown for the first time that tumor DNA circulating in the blood (ctDNA) can be identified and tracked over time—a potential boon for patients with this common type of bone cancer. Until now, most disease-monitoring technology has focused on radiologic imaging techniques—an approach that is not very sensitive for tracking the tumor. Daniel Weiser, M.D., and colleagues applied a highly sensitive DNA sequencing method to identify non-cancerous DNA and tumor DNA from the blood of seven osteosarcoma patients. The results, published online on January 18 in Oncotarget, showed that ctDNA could potentially be used to monitor disease progression and tumor response to treatment, without the need for invasive biopsies or imaging. Dr. Weiser is an assistant professor of pediatrics and genetics at Einstein and the medical director of the Intra-Abdominal Solid Tumor Program at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.
Posted on: Thursday, March 01, 2018