(b) Uses of TMs at different clinical endpoints
Clinical endpoint | Prognostic |
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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 | |
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Clinical endpoint | Response |
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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 |
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Clinical endpoint | Treatment monitoring |
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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 |
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Clinical endpoint | Detection of early relapse |
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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.