Patient acceptability of circulating tumour DNA testing in endometrial cancer follow-up

<div>Objective</div><div>Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) is emerging as a potential option to detect disease recurrence in many cancer types, however, ensuring patient acceptability of changing clinical practice and the introduction of new technology is paramount.</div><div><br></div><div>Methods</div><div>Patients enrolled in a non‐intervention cohort study determining the ability of ctDNA to detect recurrent endometrial cancer (EC) were invited to participate in a semi‐structured interview. Analysis was performed by Template Analysis.</div><div><br></div><div>Results</div><div>Eighteen patients were interviewed. A ctDNA blood test was viewed by participants as more physically and psychologically acceptable than clinical examination to monitor for EC recurrence. In particular, participants expressed overwhelming preference for a blood test rather than pelvic examination. Although participants acknowledged that an abnormal ctDNA result could cause anxiety, they expressed a preference to be informed of their results, even if a recurrence was too small to detect radiologically. Explanations for these opinions were a desire for certainty whether their cancer would recur or not, and knowledge would help them be more aware of symptoms that should be reported to their clinician.</div><div><br></div><div>Conclusions</div><div>ctDNA monitoring to identify EC recurrence appears to be acceptable to patients, and for many, it may be preferable to clinical examination.</div>