MRD & ctDNA Blood Tests Catch Cancer Recurrence Before MRI & CT Scans

Can a simple blood test catch cancer recurrence months — or even years — before a scan would ever show it? Dr. Alan Tan, a board-certified medical oncologist and leading expert in genitourinary (GU) cancers — kidney, bladder, and prostate cancer — as well as melanoma, joins Dr. Robert Cykiert to break down Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing: what it is, how it works, and why it's changing how cancer is monitored and treated.Dr. Tan serves as Vice President of MRD Research and Clinical Strategy at Tempus AI, and is Associate Professor of Medicine and GU Oncology Lead at Vanderbilt University Medical Center / Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. He shares his hands-on clinical experience using the Personalis NeXT Personal test — including how it's helping detect recurrence at ultra-sensitive levels, guide treatment decisions, and potentially reduce unnecessary chemotherapy and immunotherapy toxicity for patients who are already cured.🔑 TOPICS COVERED:00:00 – Catching recurrence before scans show it00:38 – Welcome & episode introduction01:51 – Meet Dr. Alan Tan03:38 – What is MRD? What is ctDNA?06:19 – Why a "clear scan" doesn't mean cancer-free08:19 – How the blood test actually works11:57 – How long can/should you keep testing?15:31 – Which cancers benefit most right now (colon, lung, breast, bladder)20:37 – Does this work for prostate cancer?23:05 – Inside the Personalis NeXT Personal test28:29 – False negative rates and long-term monitoring33:28 – Dr. Tan's role at Tempus AI37:22 – What does the "AI" in Tempus actually mean?40:31 – Will scans eventually be replaced?42:43 – Are patients asking about this yet?👨‍⚕️ ABOUT THE GUEST:Dr. Alan Tan is a nationally recognized GU oncology expert with extensive experience in clinical trial design, biomarker development, immunotherapy combinations, and translational research.🎙️ Subscribe to the #DoctorPodcasts Show for more expert interviews breaking down complex medical topics in plain language.👍 Like, comment, and share if you learned something new — and let us know if you'd ask your own oncologist about MRD testing after watching!⚠️ DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your physician regarding any medical condition or treatment.#MRD #ctDNA #CancerRecurrence #CancerResearch #OncologyNews #LiquidBiopsy #PrecisionOncology #KidneyCancer #BladderCancer #ProstateCancer #TempusAI #CancerAwareness #EarlyDetection #MedicalPodcast #CancerSurvivor #GUCancer #ImmunotherapyResearch #PersonalizedMedicine #OncologyResearch