Preoperative Circulating Tumor DNA Detection and Risk Stratification in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Preoperative ctDNA detection was significantly associated with occult nodal metastasis and recurrence risk in clinical N0 early-stage ESCC in this study. Among patients with T2N0 ESCC, ctDNA may serve as a complementary biomarker to inform neoadjuvant treatment escalation and support more personalized therapeutic strategies.