Circulating tumour HPV DNA (ctHPV-DNA)
A blood test that detects fragments of the virus DNA shed by HPV-positive throat cancers, to confirm diagnosis, track response, and catch recurrence early.
Digital droplet PCR or NGS assays (NavDx, others) detect HPV16 DNA in plasma with high specificity; clearance during chemoradiation predicts cure and post-treatment surveillance detects recurrence months before imaging. Being used to select patients for response-adapted de-escalation after the failure of HPV-status-alone selection (NRG-HN005).
How it works
Tumour-tissue-modified viral DNA fragments quantified in cell-free plasma DNA.
- Highly specific to the tumour
- Cheap, repeatable, earlier than imaging
- Only for HPV-driven disease
- Interventional trials proving benefit of acting on it are ongoing
Latest papers
topQuery for this technology: (TITLE:"Circulating tumour HPV DNA" OR ABSTRACT:"Circulating tumour HPV DNA" OR TITLE:"ctHPV-DNA" OR ABSTRACT:"ctHPV-DNA") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Circulating tumour HPV DNA (ctHPV-DNA), not a curated reading list.
Pages like this
not linked directly; found by shared links- TrialNRG-HN002 & NRG-HN005 (HPV+ de-escalation)
Shares Caution: de-escalating radiation on HPV status alone, ctHPV-DNA-adapted de-escalation of chemoradiation, HPV-positive (p16) head and neck cancer, Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
- InstitutionPrince of Wales Hospital / Chinese University of Hong Kong
Shares Plasma EBV DNA, Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), Liquid biopsy (ctDNA), Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
- InstitutionQueen Mary Hospital / University of Hong Kong
Shares Plasma EBV DNA, Liquid biopsy (ctDNA), Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
- PersonSarah-Jane Dawson
Shares Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), MRD / molecular residual disease testing, Liquid biopsy (ctDNA).
- PersonAsh A. Alizadeh
Shares Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), MRD / molecular residual disease testing, Liquid biopsy (ctDNA).
- IdeaHPV circulating tumour DNA to guide cervical cancer therapy
Shares Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), MRD / molecular residual disease testing, Liquid biopsy (ctDNA).
- IdeaTake the blood test, and give the drug, at the right time of day
Shares Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), MRD / molecular residual disease testing, Liquid biopsy (ctDNA).
- IdeaBreak the neutrophil DNA nets that catch tumour cells after surgery
Shares Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), MRD / molecular residual disease testing, Liquid biopsy (ctDNA).