Minimal Residual Disease (MRD)
Chair: Benjamin Besse

Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) is the presence of a small number of cancer cells that remain in the body after treatment and may lead to relapse. EORTC focuses on this topic to advance clinical trials and improve cancer care.

Discover the Task Force: Interview with Benjamin Besse

  • Advance the understanding and application of MRD assessment in clinical trials;
  • Personalise treatment plans by determining the optimal duration and timing for treatments based on MRD status;
  • Explore treatment (de)-escalation strategies based on MRD status to improve patient outcomes.

The task force is composed of experts across the various EORTC disease-oriented groups, including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, and translational researchers.

  • Discuss recent technological advancements in MRD detection;
  • Compare different MRD detection methods with a specific focus on circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA);
  • Outline the clinical applications and regulatory requirements for MRD tests;
  • Address technical and logistical challenges in MRD research, proposing strategies to navigate these issues;
  • Address technical and logistical challenges in MRD research, proposing strategies to navigate these issues;
  • Establish a common framework for MRD measurement across cancer types, with guidelines for:
    • Study design;
    • Sample handling;
    • Test selection;
    • Data interpretation;
    • Identify future research priorities to further integrate MRD into clinical practice.
Currently, the 2148 SPECTA MRD research project is assessing the potential of ctDNA as a surrogate marker for recurrence in solid tumours. The study involves regular blood draws for ctDNA analysis from patients with a high risk of relapse, following curative treatment, and aims to provide early detection of relapse compared to traditional imaging methods.