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Opinion|Videos|May 11, 2026

Expanding ctDNA Applications to RCC and Germ Cell Tumors

Author(s)Pooja Ghatalia, M.D. , Steven Seyedin, M.D. , Arnab Basu, M.D.

Experts explain how ctDNA tracking in metastatic cancer guides therapy tweaks, flags relapse early, and where it fails in brain/peritoneal disease.

Episodes in this series

Experts featured in this series.

EP. 1 Early Adoption of ctDNA in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Experts featured in this series.

EP. 2 Integrating ctDNA Into Clinical Decision-Making

Experts featured in this series.

EP. 3 ctDNA in the Perioperative Setting

Experts featured in this series.

EP. 4 Practical Considerations for ctDNA Testing

Experts featured in this series.

EP. 5 ctDNA in Chemoradiotherapy and Bladder Preservation

Experts featured in this series.

EP. 6 Emerging Role of Urinary Tumor DNA (utDNA)

Experts featured in this series.

EP. 7 ctDNA in Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma

Experts featured in this series.

EP. 8 Expanding ctDNA Applications to RCC and Germ Cell Tumors

The discussion expands beyond bladder cancer to explore the role of ctDNA in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and germ cell tumors. In RCC, ctDNA adoption has been limited due to lower tumor shedding, but emerging assays and complementary biomarkers such as KIM-1 are showing promise for risk stratification and recurrence prediction. In germ cell tumors, ctDNA and microRNA-based assays demonstrate strong prognostic potential, particularly in the adjuvant setting and for evaluating residual disease. However, these approaches remain investigational, and clinicians emphasize the need for larger prospective studies. This segment highlights the biological diversity across GU malignancies and the importance of tailoring molecular monitoring strategies to each disease type, as ctDNA technologies continue to evolve.

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