Dr Taigo Kato speaks to ecancer about ultra-sensitive whole-genome sequencing-based molecular residual disease detection in resectable renal cell carcinoma.

He discusses early results from the MONSTAR-SCREEN-3 study.

This study evaluated a next-generation circulating tumour DNA approach in patients with resectable RCC.

Using an ultra-sensitive whole-genome sequencing platform, researchers were able to detect ctDNA in all patients at baseline, including at extremely low levels often missed by conventional methods.

Following surgery, a subset of patients remained ctDNA-positive, and in one case, molecular detection of residual disease preceded radiographic recurrence by several months.

These findings highlight the potential of highly sensitive ctDNA assays to improve surveillance in kidney cancer, a tumour type traditionally considered difficult for liquid biopsy due to low DNA shedding.

Dr Kato explores how this technology could enable earlier detection of relapse and help guide post-surgical monitoring strategies in the future.