Bridging liquid biopsy into management of lymphoma patients: development of frameworks for clinical research and recommendations for clinical practice

The International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML), taking place in Lugano since 1981, is the most important meeting in the field of lymphoma research. ICML is traditionally preceded by a Closed Workshop aimed at delving into controversial or critical issues in the lymphoma field. This workshop has in the past launched important collaboration and has led to significant achievements (e.g., the REAL Classification and the so-called Lugano Classification). The scientific advisory board and the organizing committee of the ICML have decided to devote the next Workshop, which will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 and will be supported also by AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) and ESO (European School of Oncology), to the role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis in lymphoma. Clinical use of analytical tests to assess genomic variants in ctDNA is increasing, since it is a tool for non-invasively detecting cancer gene mutations, and, by using them as fingerprint of the tumor, and by quantifying them through sensitive molecular approaches, for measuring residual disease at the systemic level in lymphoma patients. Lymphoma clinical trials are already incorporating minimal residual disease assessment by ctDNA as a tool to inform treatment intensification despite uncertainties around pre-analytical considerations, analytical validity, and clinical validity and utility. The Workshop will convey a joint panel of biology, hematology, oncology and pathology experts to review available evidence and develop a review about ctDNA assays as a cancer biomarker in various clinical scenarios. This joint review is intended to provide an assessment of the evidence on ctDNA assays in lymphomas and a framework for future research and clinical practice guidelines to help better inform clinical practice.