Emerging Role of Urinary Tumor DNA (utDNA)

This focused segment introduces urinary tumor DNA (utDNA) as a complementary biomarker to blood-based ctDNA in bladder cancer. Panelists discuss how utDNA may provide additional insight into localized disease within the bladder, potentially distinguishing local residual disease from systemic risk. Early data suggest that while ctDNA is more predictive of metastatic recurrence, utDNA may better reflect tumor presence within the urinary tract. However, limitations exist, including lower specificity and challenges in interpreting positive results when no visible tumor is detected. Clinicians note that utDNA is not yet widely used in routine practice but may become increasingly relevant as bladder preservation strategies evolve. This segment highlights the potential for combining ctDNA and utDNA to create a more comprehensive molecular assessment of disease status.