Karolinska Launches Pilot Project Using Blood Tests to Monitor Cancer Recurrence

A new pilot project at Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm is set to transform the way cancer recurrence is monitored by employing blood tests to detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Traditionally, cancer patient follow-up involves repeated imaging and invasive tissue biopsies, but this initiative promises a gentler, more efficient, and potentially cost-saving alternative.

The project enables patients to provide blood samples at their local healthcare centers, which are then analyzed for ctDNA—small fragments of tumor DNA released into the bloodstream. According to Johan Gómez de la Torre from Cancerfonden, this method will allow a safer and more streamlined follow-up process for patients.

Funded by Cancerfonden, the pilot aims to establish an effective technique for analyzing ctDNA to ensure robustness, patient safety, and cost-effectiveness in clinical practice. Though initial focus will be on cancers where research is most advanced, the technology has the potential to be applicable across all cancer types within a few years.

This approach could significantly reduce the need for repeated radiological exams and biopsies, easing the physical and psychological burden on patients while potentially lowering healthcare costs over time. The project's success will depend on pinpointing the best analytical methods to integrate the blood test smoothly into routine healthcare.

With cancer monitoring often being invasive and resource-intensive, this innovative project at Karolinska represents a promising advancement in Swedish cancer care, aiming to provide patients with less invasive follow-up and earlier detection of recurrence through a simple blood test.