Gastrointestinal Cancer: Keeping a Close Watch on Cancer

Presentation

Jorge, an otherwise healthy 56-year-old man, became concerned about his shortness of breath. A comprehensive workup revealed that his symptoms were due to a gastrointestinal cancer that had spread to his lungs. He turned to PHM for help and guidance navigating the diagnosis. 

PHM Impact

Jorge’s PHM Personal Care Team knew he needed the most effective treatments available and an aggressive monitoring strategy to achieve the best possible outcome. 

Analyzing Circulating Tumor DNA

PHM immediately employed circulating tumor DNA analyses (ctDNA) to monitor Jorge’s cancer. After cancer surgery, imaging suggested little, if any, cancer remained, and the ctDNA test that monitors for cancer presence was negative.

Enrollment in Immunotherapy Clinical Trial

The trial gave Jorge a personalized anti-cancer vaccine. His ctDNA tests were still negative, suggesting controlled cancer that could be managed as a chronic ailment. 

A few months later the ctDNA test that detects recurrence came back positive. Immunotherapy can take several months to work effectively, however.  Three months later, imaging results were unclear. But the ctDNA test was positive again, this time more strongly than before. Jorge’s team started planning next treatment steps and accelerated the monitoring.

Two months later, both ctDNA tests came back positive, and imaging indicated disease progression.