Nele Boeckx1, Ken Op de Beeck1, Matthias Beyens1, Vanessa Deschoolmeester2, Christophe Hermans3, Peggy De Clercq4, Sonia Garrigou5, Corinne Normand5, Els Monsaert6, Konstantinos Papadimitriou4, Pierre Laurent-Puig7, Patrick Pauwels3, Guy Van Camp1, Valerie Taly8, Marc Peeters9. 1. Center for Oncological Research (CORE), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Center of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium. 2. Center for Oncological Research (CORE), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. 3. Center for Oncological Research (CORE), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Pathology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium. 4. Department of Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium. 5. INSERM UMR-S1147, CNRS SNC5014, Paris Descartes University, Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le cancer, Paris, France. 6. Department of Gastroenterology and Integrated Cancer Center, Ghent, Belgium. 7. INSERM UMR-S1147, CNRS SNC5014, Paris Descartes University, Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le cancer, Paris, France; Department of Biology, European Georges Pompidou Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France. 8. INSERM UMR-S1147, CNRS SNC5014, Paris Descartes University, Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le cancer, Paris, France. Electronic address: valerie.taly@parisdescartes.fr. 9. Center for Oncological Research (CORE), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: marc.peeters@uza.be.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Targeted therapies, although contributing to survival improvement in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), are expensive and may cause adverse effects. Therefore, confirming that patients are responding to these therapies is extremely important. Currently, follow-up is performed using radiographic evaluation, which has its limitations. Liquid biopsies, reflecting real-time tumor characteristics, hold great potential in monitoring tumor disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected at different time points during treatment of 24 mCRC patients. Mutation and NPY methylation picoliter droplet-based digital PCR (ddPCR) assays were performed on circulating DNA to investigate whether these assays can be used for disease monitoring. RESULTS: The results of the mutation and methylation assays were correlated with each other and corresponded with the results of radiographic evaluation. There was a steep decrease in circulating tumor DNA levels immediately after treatment initiation. Furthermore, circulating tumor DNA levels were increased in progressive samples and were undetectable in patients undergoing curative surgery. CONCLUSION: This prospective study showed that tumor-specific mutation and NPY methylation ddPCR assays performed on circulating DNA can be used for the follow-up of mCRC patients during treatment and could complement current follow-up methods. The analysis of NPY methylation is promising, as it has the additional advantage that no prior knowledge of tumor mutations is needed.
BACKGROUND: Targeted therapies, although contributing to survival improvement in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), are expensive and may cause adverse effects. Therefore, confirming that patients are responding to these therapies is extremely important. Currently, follow-up is performed using radiographic evaluation, which has its limitations. Liquid biopsies, reflecting real-time tumor characteristics, hold great potential in monitoring tumor disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected at different time points during treatment of 24 mCRC patients. Mutation and NPY methylation picoliter droplet-based digital PCR (ddPCR) assays were performed on circulating DNA to investigate whether these assays can be used for disease monitoring. RESULTS: The results of the mutation and methylation assays were correlated with each other and corresponded with the results of radiographic evaluation. There was a steep decrease in circulating tumor DNA levels immediately after treatment initiation. Furthermore, circulating tumor DNA levels were increased in progressive samples and were undetectable in patients undergoing curative surgery. CONCLUSION: This prospective study showed that tumor-specific mutation and NPY methylation ddPCR assays performed on circulating DNA can be used for the follow-up of mCRC patients during treatment and could complement current follow-up methods. The analysis of NPY methylation is promising, as it has the additional advantage that no prior knowledge of tumor mutations is needed.
Authors: Patricia Mondelo-Macía; Ana María Rodríguez-Ces; María Mercedes Suárez-Cunqueiro; Laura Muinelo Romay Journal: Adv Exp Med Biol Date: 2022 Impact factor: 3.650
Authors: Louise B Callesen; Julian Hamfjord; Anders K Boysen; Niels Pallisgaard; Tormod K Guren; Elin H Kure; Karen-Lise G Spindler Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2022-04-19 Impact factor: 9.075
Authors: LaShanale Wallace; Karen Aikhionbare; Saswati Banerjee; Katie Peagler; Mareena Pitts; Xuebiao Yao; Felix Aikhionbare Journal: Cancer Res J (N Y N Y) Date: 2021-01-25
Authors: Caroline B Thomsen; Torben F Hansen; Rikke F Andersen; Jan Lindebjerg; Lars H Jensen; Anders Jakobsen Journal: Ther Adv Med Oncol Date: 2020-05-26 Impact factor: 8.168