Researchers have developed a breakthrough blood test for mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the organ linings often caused by asbestos exposure. Because mesothelioma spreads diffusely rather than forming solid tumors, traditional imaging struggles to detect its presence or track treatment effectiveness.
The new approach, developed by teams at Johns Hopkins University and Georgetown University, detects circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the bloodstream. This ultra-sensitive test can identify microscopic signs of cancer that standard scans miss, providing an early and precise way to monitor disease.
In a phase II trial combining immunotherapy with surgery, the ctDNA test successfully detected cancer when imaging showed none, predicted which patients would respond best to therapy, monitored treatment effectiveness in real-time, and identified those at risk for relapse. Lead researcher Dr. Joshua Reuss notes that with further validation, this test could become a standard tool for patient selection and treatment monitoring in mesothelioma.