Circulating Tumor DNA and Lung Cancer: Current and Future Perspectives

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a transformative biomarker in lung cancer management. Its clinical applications span from the well-established role in therapy selection for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to rapidly evolving uses in treatment response monitoring, minimal residual disease (MRD) detection, perioperative immunotherapy assessment, and early cancer detection. This review synthesizes the current evidence and future perspectives on ctDNA across the lung cancer care continuum, highlighting key clinical trials, guideline recommendations, technological advances, and remaining challenges for broader clinical implementation.