Quantitative TP53 circulating tumor DNA predicts tumor response and survival outcomes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Figure 3 Association between preoperative TP53 circulating tumor DNA variant allele frequency and pathological staging in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients. A: T-stage stratification: Median TP53 circulating tumor DNA variant allele frequency was 0.00% (T1, T2) and 1.09% (T3); B: N-stage stratification: Progressive increase in median mutation abundance from 0.05% (N0) to 0.54% (N+); C: Tumor-node-metastasis stage stratification: Significant elevation in median mutation abundance with advancing stage: 0.05% (stage I-II) and 0.54% (stage III-IV); ctDNA not detected: Shown as 0.01% on log scale. VAF: Variant allele frequency; ctDNA: Circulating tumor DNA.