ctDNA
Medical abbreviation · Hematology and Oncology
| Stands for | Circulating tumor DNA |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
ctDNA stands for Circulating tumor DNA, a hematology and oncology abbreviation.
Fragments of DNA shed by cancer cells into the bloodstream, analyzed in a "liquid biopsy" to identify targetable mutations, track treatment response and detect minimal residual disease after surgery. It allows genomic testing when tissue is scarce.
Example: Plasma ctDNA identified an EGFR exon 19 deletion while tissue NGS was pending.
Usage notes
The DYNAMIC trial (2022) showed that using ctDNA results to guide adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II colon cancer reduced chemotherapy use without worsening recurrence rates. Because some tumors shed little DNA, a negative ctDNA result does not exclude a mutation. Mutations from clonal hematopoiesis in blood cells can cause false positives.
Related abbreviations
More hematology and oncology abbreviations
- CML – Chronic myeloid leukemia
- CR – Complete response
- CRAB – Hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, anemia, bone lesions
- CRS – Cytokine release syndrome
- Cryo – Cryoprecipitate
- CTCAE – Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events
- CTLA-4 – Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4
- CUP – Cancer of unknown primary
- DCIS – Ductal carcinoma in situ
- DFS – Disease-free survival
- DIC – Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- DLBCL – Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
See all 144 hematology and oncology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.