Drs. Jose Silva and Alberto Pieretti discuss ongoing research evaluating circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a tool to personalize bladder cancer treatment and guide clinical decision-making. Trials such as IMvigor and NIAGARA suggest ctDNA can identify patients at higher risk of recurrence and help determine who may benefit from intensified therapy or alternative treatment strategies like bladder preservation. Researchers are also exploring whether ctDNA-negative patients could safely avoid certain treatments, including chemotherapy, to reduce toxicity. As evidence grows, ctDNA may become an important component of precision medicine in bladder cancer by helping clinicians tailor therapy and surveillance more effectively.
Contributors:
Dr. Jose Silva is a board certified urologist practicing in Central Florida.
Dr. Alberto Pieretti is a urologic oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital in Parkland, Florida.
