We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Fluidigm

Fluidigm Corporation focuses on the most pressing needs in translational and clinical research, including cancer, imm... read more Featured Products: More products

Download Mobile App




Events

09 Apr 2024 - 12 Apr 2024
15 Apr 2024 - 17 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 - 26 Apr 2024

Blood Test Monitors Relapsed Serous Ovarian Cancer

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 09 Feb 2017
Print article
Image: The Biomark microfluidic system for polymerase chain reactions (Photo courtesy of Fluidigm).
Image: The Biomark microfluidic system for polymerase chain reactions (Photo courtesy of Fluidigm).
The development of blood biomarkers that can be used for early detection of cancer or to measure tumor burden and response to treatment is a major goal of translational cancer studies across all cancer types.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) carrying tumor-specific sequence alterations may provide a minimally invasive means to dynamically assess tumor burden and response to treatment in cancer patients.

Scientists at Cambridge University performed a retrospective analysis of serial plasma samples collected during routine clinical visits from 40 patients with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) undergoing heterogeneous standard of care treatment. Patient-specific tumor protein p53 (TP53) assays were developed for 31 unique mutations identified in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor DNA from these patients.

Digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using the Biomark microfluidic system. Total circulating cell-free DNA was measured as the TP53 total allele count (TP53TAC), the sum of estimated targets of mutated and wild-type copies of TP53 amplified by the assay primers. Serum CA-125 level was routinely monitored using a two-site sandwich immunoassay on a Siemens Centaur XP auto-analyzer (upper limit of normal ≤ 30 IU/ml).

The investigators found that the median TP53MAF prior to treatment in 51 relapsed treatment courses was 8% (interquartile range [IQR] 1.2%–22%) compared to 0.7% (IQR 0.3%–2.0%) for seven untreated newly diagnosed stage IIIC/IV patients. The ratio of TP53MAF to volume of disease was higher in relapsed patients than in untreated patients. In 49 treatment courses for relapsed disease, pre-treatment TP53MAF concentration, but not CA-125, was associated with time to progression (TTP). Specificity was improved when patients with recent drainage of ascites were excluded. Ascites drainage led to a reduction of TP53MAF concentration.

The authors concluded that ctDNA is correlated with volume of disease at the start of treatment in women with HGSOC and that a decrease of less than 60% in TP53MAF after one cycle of chemotherapy was associated with shorter TTP. These results provide evidence that ctDNA has the potential to be a highly specific early molecular response marker in HGSOC. James Brenton, MD, a medical oncologist and senior author of the study, said, “Though we’re at an early stage, the results are an exciting signal that levels of faulty DNA in the blood are related to the tumor size, and that changes in these levels could one day be a signpost for doctors and patients to decide if treatment is working for them.” The study was published on December 30, 2016, in the journal Public Library of Science Medicine.

Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Specimen Collection & Transport
Complement 3 (C3) Test
GPP-100 C3 Kit
New
Gold Member
Fully Automated Cell Density/Viability Analyzer
BioProfile FAST CDV

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: MOF materials efficiently enrich cfDNA and cfRNA in blood through simple operational process (Photo courtesy of Science China Press)

Blood Circulating Nucleic Acid Enrichment Technique Enables Non-Invasive Liver Cancer Diagnosis

The ability to diagnose diseases early can significantly enhance the effectiveness of clinical treatments and improve survival rates. One promising approach for non-invasive early diagnosis is the use... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The low-cost portable device rapidly identifies chemotherapy patients at risk of sepsis (Photo courtesy of 52North Health)

POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections,... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.