Imagine if a single blood test could tell clinicians in real time how successful a cancer surgery has been. A recent study from the University of Brasília, published in Oncotarget, suggests that such an approach might soon be possible. By tracking changes in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels before, during, and after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery, researchers have found a potential new way to monitor tumor removal and predict patient outcomes.
Cell-Free DNA and Colorectal Cancer Surgery
Cell-free DNA consists of tiny fragments of genetic material that are released into the bloodstream when cells break down. In healthy individuals, these fragments come from normal cell turnover, but in cancer patients, some of this DNA originates from tumor cells. cfDNA detection has been used to track cancer progression and treatment response in diseases like lung, breast, and CRC. What had not been investigated until now was how cfDNA levels fluctuate during cancer surgery itself.
Since surgery is the primary treatment for CRC, understanding how cfDNA levels change during surgical intervention could provide valuable insights into whether the tumor has been fully removed and how the patient’s body reacts to the procedure.
The Study: Measuring Cell-Free DNA in Real-Time
In the study, titled “Assessment of cfDNA release dynamics during colorectal cancer surgery,” led by first author Mailson Alves Lopes and corresponding author Fabio Pittella-Silva, scientists analyzed blood plasma samples from 30 CRC patients at three critical time points—before, during, and after surgery. Using highly sensitive genetic tests, they measured changes in cfDNA concentration to determine whether surgery had a direct impact on its release. The goal was to check whether cfDNA could serve as a biomarker for evaluating surgical effectiveness and predicting the probability of cancer recurrence.
Full blog - https://www.oncotarget.org/2025/02/26/how-a-simple-blood-test-could-predict-colorectal-cancer-surgery-success/
Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28681
Correspondence to - Fabio Pittella-Silva - pittella@unb.br
Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC5_xqIrbtA
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Keywords - cancer, colorectal cancer, cfDNA, surgery
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Oncotarget (a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal) aims to maximize research impact through insightful peer-review; eliminate borders between specialties by linking different fields of oncology, cancer research and biomedical sciences; and foster application of basic and clinical science.
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