Lung cancer is one of the most malignant cancers in China with a rising incidence rate. Despite the fact that surgical treatment is the only possible cure for lung cancer, its long-term efficacy is compromised by the high level of postoperative local recurrence rate. Minimal residual disease is the leading cause of tumor recurrence, yet the suggested combination of clinical, radiological and serological (carcinoembryonic antigen) tests fails to reveal the underlying residual tissue in all stage I-III lung cancer cases, which makes tumor recurrence surveillance timely. Through monitoring circulating tumor DNA, the minimal residual disease level can be accessed and provide guidance for more precise postoperative personalized treatment, and its scientific feasibility can revolutionize lung cancer therapy. In the present review we summarized the progress of circulating tumor DNA in lung cancer minimal residual disease detection and discussed its application value in guiding precise treatment of lung cancer.
Keywords: Circulating tumor DNA; lung cancer; minimal residual disease.