Dana-Farber Study Links ctDNA to Prostate Cancer Treatment
Researchers identify ctDNA biomarkers that predict resistance to 177Lu-PSMA-617 therapy in prostate cancer patients.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Cancer
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A study from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute reveals that baseline ctDNA tumor fraction levels can predict patient response to 177Lu-PSMA-617 treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Researchers presented the findings at the ESMO Annual Congress held in Madrid.
Why it matters
Understanding how ctDNA influences treatment response helps clinicians identify which patients are at risk for intrinsic resistance to radioligand therapy. This insight could lead to better patient selection and personalized therapeutic approaches for those with metastatic disease.
The study analyzed 154 samples from 72 patients, finding that those with a baseline ctDNA tumor fraction exceeding 2% experienced significantly shorter overall survival. Exceptional responders exhibited a mean tumor fraction of 0.08 compared to 0.41 in patients with intrinsic resistance.
The players
Alok Tewari
He is the lead investigator who presented the study findings at the ESMO Annual Congress.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
This Boston-based research center served as the site for treating the 72 patients included in the study.
The details
Using the PredicineCARE and PredicineSCORE platforms, investigators identified baseline alterations in the 9p21 locus and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway linked to treatment resistance. Treatment-emergent alterations were also observed in 18 patients as their disease progressed.
Timeline
Patients received treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute between July 2022 and August 2024.
Findings were presented on October 23, 2026, at the ESMO Annual Congress.
Health Landscape
This research builds upon the established clinical use of 177Lu-PSMA-617 radioligand therapy by introducing a molecular screening layer to predict efficacy. It represents a shift toward precision oncology where genomic profiling guides the application of advanced isotope-based treatments.
Patients undergoing advanced prostate cancer treatment may see changes in how doctors screen for therapy eligibility and monitor for signs of resistance. These genomic profiling methods could eventually lead to more accurate assessments of whether specific radioligand therapies are likely to succeed for an individual.
The takeaway
Patients and clinicians should discuss how molecular profiling and ctDNA testing can be integrated into existing prostate cancer treatment plans. Such testing may offer valuable data on potential treatment responses before starting a new course of radioligand therapy.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest research in this field at the Cancer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Urotoday.
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