Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
ctDNA
Pronunciation: C-T-D-N-A
Also written as: ctDNA — Circulating Tumor DNA
Circulating tumor DNA fragments released by cancer cells into the bloodstream.
Full Definition
Circulating tumor DNA consists of short DNA fragments shed by tumor cells into the bloodstream that carry tumor-specific genetic alterations. These fragments can be detected and analyzed through specialized liquid biopsy techniques to monitor disease status, detect minimal residual disease, and identify resistance mutations without invasive procedures. The technology enables real-time assessment of tumor dynamics and has revolutionized cancer monitoring approaches.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize. Spell out on first use in patient-facing documents.
In Context
- "Serial ctDNA monitoring revealed a 10-fold decrease following treatment initiation." — Treatment response assessment
- "The ctDNA assay detected an EGFR T790M resistance mutation before radiographic progression." — Resistance monitoring report
Also known as
circulating tumor DNA
cell-free tumor DNA
Contrasted with
germline DNA
cfDNA from normal cells
Don't confuse with
cfDNA
CTC
total cell-free DNA