Cell-Free DNA Detection Technology May Revolutionize Cancer Care

In combination with transplant oncology, cfDNA detection technology has the potential to revolutionize the future of cancer care and management. This is based on the premise that patients with liver cancer can undergo liver transplantation (LT) and cfDNA detection technology can indicate the presence of cancer post-LT. Although this technique cannot be used for the diagnosis of liver cancer, it can indicate cancer recurrence and organ rejection post-transplantation. By removing and replacing the cancerous organ with a healthy one, the patient becomes cancer-free. Patients are monitored for cancer recurrence via the cfDNA detection technology every 4-6 months post-LT for up to 5 years. Abdelrahim has been using the cfDNA detection technology at Houston Methodist for the past three years. He is routinely engaged in performing LTs (183 LTs were performed last year) and Abdelrahim’s patients show a very promising 5-year survival rate of 85%. The beauty of the cfDNA detection technology is that it can detect MRD post-transplantation and in those cases adjuvant therapy can be administered to eradicate the cancer. Abdelrahim provided a comprehensive overview of the history and evolution of cfDNA technology in the context of liver cancer in the review published in Cancers in 2022. The study emphasizes that the success of transplant oncology is dependent on efficient monitoring of the tumor burden pre- and post-transplantation and identification of transplant rejection and/or cancer recurrence. Organ transplantation as a treatment for cancer is an avenue that can be explored not only for hepatic malignancies but for other organ malignancies as well.