ctDNA for better cancer care

Undergoing cancer treatment can be traumatic, difficult and time-consuming, and access to cancer treatment is inequitable.

The current healthcare system relies on invasive imaging techniques (only available at major hospitals) to monitor the progress of cancer treatment.

Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) technology uses a simple blood test to identify and measure cancer markers in the bloodstream.  It delivers more rapid and sensitive results than current methods for monitoring cancer treatment.

This study seeks to demonstrate the utility of ctDNA in the management of cancer in a variety of clinical settings, and aims to establish the technology as a routine service in New Zealand.

As part of this it will investigate the potential for using ctDNA technology to improve access to care for patients in rural areas by developing a new community-based method for monitoring cancer treatment.