ctDNA-Based MRD Detection in Stage III NSCLC Treated With Chemoradiotherapy and Durvalumab.
J Thorac OncolJun 23, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchOncology (Medical)
Henrik Horndalsveen, Vilde Drageset Haakensen, Tesfaye Madebo et al.
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In 30 seconds
This Phase II multicenter clinical trial evaluated the role of ctDNA-based minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC receiving chemoradiotherapy followed by durvalumab. The study found that detectable ctDNA before the seventh cycle of durvalumab and three months post-treatment was significantly associated with inferior progression-free survival (PFS), with hazard ratios of 2.45 and 5.37, respectively.
Key findings
- Detectable ctDNA before the seventh cycle of durvalumab was associated with a hazard ratio of 2.45 for inferior PFS.
- ctDNA detection three months after treatment completion had a hazard ratio of 5.37 for shorter PFS.
- In a multivariable model, detectable ctDNA was linked to a nearly threefold higher risk of progression (HR: 2.95).
Why it matters
The findings suggest that ctDNA monitoring can identify patients at high risk of relapse, potentially guiding treatment decisions and the need for intensified therapies in unresectable stage III NSCLC.