The AEGEAN study – The promise of ctDNA

At the ESMO 2023, Prof Martin Reck from the Lung Clinic Grosshansdorf presented game-changing insights. AEGEAN is the latest addition to perioperative chemoimmunotherapy trials for resectable NSCLC, akin to KEYNOTE 671, exploring the role of pembrolizumab and CheckMate 816 combining chemotherapy with nivolumab.

The key revelation from AEGEAN was the use of ctDNA as an early predictor of treatment outcomes. Patients with rapid ctDNA clearance during chemoimmunotherapy induction demonstrated a significantly higher likelihood of achieving a pathological response and improved event-free survival.

Crucially, ctDNA analysis enables assessments well before surgery, offering an earlier glimpse into treatment efficacy compared to post-surgery pathological assessments.

AEGEAN’s findings herald a significant advancement in resectable NSCLC care and demonstrate the transformative potential of ctDNA in tailoring treatment strategies. This research signifies the ongoing journey towards precision medicine in lung cancer care.

Reference:

Martin Reck – Associations of ctDNA clearance and pathological response with neoadjuvant treatment in patients with resectable NSCLC from the phase 3 AEGEAN trial – ESMO 2023, # LBA59