Dynamic Monitoring of Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Using Serial ctDNA: A Real-World Case Series

Recurrent ovarian cancer (OC) is challenging to detect early using current methods like CA-125 and imaging. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may improve disease monitoring. Here, we assess the real-world clinical utility of serial ctDNA analyses in patients with recurrent OC. We analyzed serial plasma samples (N = 23) from six patients with recurrent OC using a tumor-informed next-generation sequencing assay targeting 68 cancer-related genes developed at the University of Washington. ctDNA variant allele frequencies (VAFs) were correlated with CA-125 levels, radiographic findings, and clinical outcomes. ctDNA levels generally reflected clinical status, accurately mirroring disease progression and therapeutic response. In one patient, rising ctDNA preceded clinical recurrence by four months, despite normal CA-125 and imaging, highlighting its potential advantage. Conversely, some patients exhibited clinical progression with undetectable ctDNA, indicating limitations in assay sensitivity, biological factors, or metastatic sites (e.g., brain metastases). ctDNA and CA-125 showed complementary value in most cases, suggesting potential combined use in clinical monitoring. Our findings demonstrate that ctDNA is a promising biomarker to complement existing monitoring approaches for recurrent OC. In some cases, capable of predicting relapse and treatment response ahead of current clinical indicators. However, identified discordances underscore technical and biological challenges that warrant further investigation. Larger prospective studies are necessary to refine ctDNA’s clinical utility and integration into personalized OC care.