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. 2016 Nov 30;2016:9795269. doi: 10.1155/2016/9795269

(b) Uses of TMs at different clinical endpoints

Clinical endpoint Prognostic

Use of clinical data Correlate T0 levels with PFS/RFS and/or OS
Potential outcome TM can be used in future trials as prognostic factor for risk stratification
Example for clinical implication In “good risk patients”: consider less intensive treatment, or shorter duration
In “poor risk patients”: consider maintenance after induction chemotherapy

Clinical endpoint Response

Use of clinical data Correlate change in T0 to T1 and T2 levels with response per RECIST on imaging at T2
Potential outcome Early TM change at T1 predicts progression on first imaging at T2
Early TM change at T2 predicts progression on 2nd imaging at T3 (i.e., in patients with stable disease on 1st imaging at T2)
Example for clinical implication Randomized trial of continuation of same chemotherapy versus early change to different regimen based on early TM stratification; primary outcome could be ORR, PFS/RFS, or OS

Clinical endpoint Treatment monitoring

Use of clinical data Correlate change in T0 to T3 levels with best response per RECIST on imaging at T3
Potential outcome Decline in TM panel correlates with response on imaging
Example for clinical implication Fewer interval scans for patients with declining markers

Clinical endpoint Detection of early relapse

Use of clinical data Correlate change from nadir of TM at T3 with posttreatment at T4 and T5
Potential outcome Increase in levels of TM at T4 compared to T3 will predict progression at T5
Example for clinical implication Tailor surveillance imaging based on TM levels

T0 to T5, various time points for blood draw and/or imaging; PFS, progression-free survival; RFS, recurrence-free survival; OS, overall survival.