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PMWC 2027 Precision Medicine World Conference
Jan. 27-29 Santa Clara
Save $1311 By AUG. 13 View tickets
PMWC 2027 Precision Medicine World Conference
Save $1311

Interview Questions for Sarah-Jane Dawson

Interview with Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson, University of Melbourne

Interview with Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson, University of Melbourne

Responses to interview questions from Tal Behar, Precision Medicine World Conference

Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre / University of Melbourne

PMWC 2027 Track 3, Day 2 Luminary Honoree

Talk: Liquid Biopsy for Precision Medicine: Going Beyond the Cancer Genome

Interview Liquid Biopsy Therapy Guidance & Monitoring
View the Developing PMWC 2027 Program

1

Beyond Tumor Burden: A richer molecular snapshot from blood

ctDNA is becoming far more than a measure of how much cancer is present. Professor Dawson describes how genomic, fragmentomic, and epigenomic features can provide a more sophisticated real-time view of the disease and help guide therapy.

Q1 What finding from your own research most surprised you about what can be learned from ctDNA beyond tumor burden, and how could it change a patient’s treatment?
A: I am constantly surprised by the wealth of molecular information that can be learned from ctDNA beyond tumor burden. When I started working in this field over 15 years ago, our priority was understanding genomic changes from ctDNA and how these changed over time. Now we can utilise a comprehensive suite of ctDNA features encompassing genomics, fragmentomics and epigenomic changes, allowing a more sophisticated molecular snapshot of the cancer to help guide cancer therapy. This has far exceeded my expectations regarding what can be achieved from a simple blood draw.

2

No One-Size-Fits-All Test: The technology must match the clinical question

The ctDNA field is not one assay serving every purpose. Different applications require different technologies, and progress will also depend on a deeper understanding of how cell-free DNA is released into circulation.

Q2 What is the most damaging misconception about ctDNA today, and what does the field risk getting wrong because of it?
A: It is important to recognise that the field of cell free DNA research is large, encompassing many different technologies and clinical applications. It is a misconception to think that ctDNA testing represents a “one size fits all approach” and different technological approaches are required depending on the specific clinical application where ctDNA is being utilised. In addition, we still have much to learn about the biology of cell free DNA release and this knowledge will be essential to continue to push the boundaries of ctDNA analyses.

3

Ten Years From Now: ctDNA integrated into breast cancer care

The future is not simply more testing. It is routine clinical use of ctDNA to stratify risk, tailor treatment intensity, complement tissue analysis, and help determine when and how therapeutic intervention should change.

Q3 Imagine breast cancer follow-up ten years from now if ctDNA fulfills its promise. What will patients experience differently, and what evidence is still missing to get there?
A: In ten years time I imagine that ctDNA testing will be routinely incorporated into the clinical management of patients with breast cancer. With expanding clinical trial evidence, this is likely to include the use of ctDNA testing to facilitate risk stratification and guide tailored treatment escalation or de-escalation in the management of early breast cancer. In the setting of disease relapse, ctDNA testing will complement tumour tissue testing to monitor the molecular characteristics of the disease and help guide the timing and choice of specific therapeutic interventions.
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Save $1311 By AUG. 13
PMWC 2027 Jan. 27-29 • Santa Clara
15 tracks • 400 speakers Co-hosted by Stanford/UCSF/Yale • Davos of PM
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