Dr. Shirasu on the Clinical Implications of ctDNA in CRC

Hiromichi Shirasu, MD, of the Shizuoka Cancer Center in Shizuoka, Japan, discusses the clinical implications of the GALAXY trial (UMIN000039205) as part of the CIRCULATE-Japan project, which is investigating circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) status in patients with resectable colorectal cancer (CRC).

The GALAXY study provides interesting data, comprising a large-scale patient screening registry, according to Shirasu. The data collected in the GALAXY study could serve as a reference, specifically in new molecularly stratified treatments, which will be further investigated in the minimal residual disease (MRD) space, Shirasu explains.

For example, in patients who are MRD positive and harbor BRAF mutations, a BRAF inhibitor may be utilized as adjuvant therapy, and the bigger trial is evaluating whether to eliminate an immediate adjuvant chemotherapy for patients who are less likely to benefit from it, Shirasu continues. The goal of the GALAXY trial is to establish the clinical significance of early inhibition in patients who are MRD-positive at an early stage by monitoring ctDNA status, Shirasu concludes.