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circulating tumor DNA

(SER-kyoo-LAY-ting TOO-mer …)

Small pieces of DNA that are released into a person’s blood by tumor cells as they die. A sample of blood can be used to look for and measure the amount of circulating tumor DNA and identify specific mutations (changes) in the DNA. Circulating tumor DNA is being used as a biomarker to help diagnose some types of cancer, to help plan treatment, or to find out how well treatment is working or if cancer has come back. Also called ctDNA.

circulating tumor DNA

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