Citations 1
Artificial Intelligence Measured Tumor Burden and Pre‐Treatment Circulating Tumor DNA in Human Papilloma Virus‐Associated Oropharynx Cancer
Bakhtiar, Mina , Ye, Zezhong , Schoenfeld, Jonathan D. , Mohammadi, Homan , Kann, Benjamin H. , Guenette, Jeffrey P. , Rettig, Eleni M. , Hanna, Glenn J.
Head & Neck | May 5, 2025 | Volume: 47 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 2641-2649
ABSTRACTBackgroundArtificial intelligence (AI)‐based imaging analysis and circulating tumor‐associated DNA (ctDNA) are both being used diagnostically in HPV‐driven oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (HPV‐OPSCC). We evaluated associations between AI‐measured tumor burden and ctDNA.MethodsWe analyzed 170 patients treated definitively for HPV‐OPSCC. All had pre‐treatment serum tumor‐tissue modified viral (TTMV) ctDNA levels. An AI algorithm measured tumor and lymph nodes on CT scans. Linear regressions detected associations between ctDNA (fragments/mL) and automated volumes, clinical tumor (T) and nodal (N) stage, and disease factors.ResultsAutomated tumor volume (coeff = 39.43, p < 0.001), nodal volume (coeff = 39.54, p < 0.001), T stage (coeff = 1031.09, p = 0.009), and N stage (coeff = 1840, p = 0.018) were associated with ctDNA. On multivariable analysis, tumor (coeff = 34.79, p = 0.001) and nodal volumes (coeff = 24.68, p = 0.022) were associated with ctDNA; T and N stage were not.ConclusionsAutomated volumetrics are independently and more strongly associated with ctDNA, compared with clinical stage. Automated volumetrics provide a practical correlate to ctDNA.