scholarly journals A serum-based DNA methylation assay provides accurate detection of glioma

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thais Sabedot ◽  
Tathiane Malta ◽  
James Snyder ◽  
Kevin Nelson ◽  
Michael Wells ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The detection of somatic mutations in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from liquid biopsy has emerged as a non-invasive tool to monitor the follow-up of cancer patients. However, the significance of cfDNA clinical utility remains uncertain in patients with brain tumors, primarily because of the limited sensitivity cfDNA has to detect real tumor-specific somatic mutations. This unresolved challenge has prevented accurate follow-up of glioma patients with non-invasive approaches. Methods Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of tumor tissue and serum cell-free DNA of glioma patients. Results Here, we developed a non-invasive approach to profile the DNA methylation status in the serum of patients with gliomas and identified a cfDNA-derived methylation signature that is associated with the presence of gliomas and related immune features. By testing the signature in an independent discovery and validation cohorts, we developed and verified a score metric (the “glioma epigenetic liquid biopsy score” or GeLB) that optimally distinguished patients with or without glioma (sensitivity: 100%, specificity: 97.78%). Furthermore, we found that changes in GeLB score reflected clinicopathological changes during surveillance (e.g., progression, pseudoprogression or response to standard or experimental treatment). Conclusions Our results suggest that the GeLB score can be used as a complementary approach to diagnose and follow up patients with glioma.

Vascular ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 170853812093642
Author(s):  
Maria Palmieri ◽  
Anna Maria Pinto ◽  
Laura di Blasio ◽  
Aurora Currò ◽  
Valentina Monica ◽  
...  

Objectives Somatic mosaicism of PIK3CA gene is currently recognized as the molecular driver of Klippel–Trenaunay syndrome. However, given the limitation of the current technologies, PIK3CA somatic mutations are detected only in a limited proportion of Klippel–Trenaunay syndrome cases and tissue biopsy remains an invasive high risky, sometimes life-threatening, diagnostic procedure. Next generation sequencing liquid biopsy using cell-free DNA has emerged as an innovative non-invasive approach for early detection and monitoring of cancer. This approach, overcoming the space-time profile constraint of tissue biopsies, opens a new scenario also for others diseases caused by somatic mutations. Methods In the present study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of seven patients (four females and three males) with Klippel–Trenaunay syndrome. Blood samples from both peripheral and efferent vein from malformation were collected and cell-free DNA was extracted from plasma. Tissue biopsies from vascular lesions were also collected when available. Cell-free DNA libraries were performed using Oncomine™ Pan-Cancer Cell-Free Assay. Ion Proton for sequencing and Ion Reporter Software for analysis were used (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA, USA). Results Cell-free circulating DNA analysis revealed pathogenic mutations in PIK3CA gene in all patients. The mutational load was higher in plasma obtained from the efferent vein at lesional site (0.81%) than in the peripheral vein (0.64%) leading to conclude for a causative role of the identified variants. Tissue analysis, available for one amputated patient, confirmed the presence of the mutation at the malformation site at a high molecular frequency (14–25%), confirming its causative role. Conclusions Our data prove for the first time that the cell-free DNA-next generation sequencing–liquid biopsy, which is currently used exclusively in an oncologic setting, is indeed the most effective tool for Klippel–Trenaunay syndrome diagnosis and tailored personalized treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zimeng Ye ◽  
Zac Chatterton ◽  
Jahnvi Pflueger ◽  
John A Damiano ◽  
Lara McQuillan ◽  
...  

Abstract Brain somatic mutations are an increasingly recognized cause of epilepsy, brain malformations and autism spectrum disorders and may be a hidden cause of other neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. At present, brain mosaicism can be detected only in the rare situations of autopsy or brain biopsy. Liquid biopsy using cell-free DNA derived from cerebrospinal fluid has detected somatic mutations in malignant brain tumours. Here, we asked if cerebrospinal fluid liquid biopsy can be used to detect somatic mosaicism in non-malignant brain diseases. First, we reliably quantified cerebrospinal fluid cell-free DNA in 28 patients with focal epilepsy and 28 controls using droplet digital PCR. Then, in three patients we identified somatic mutations in cerebrospinal fluid: in one patient with subcortical band heterotopia the LIS1 p. Lys64* variant at 9.4% frequency; in a second patient with focal cortical dysplasia the TSC1 p. Phe581His*6 variant at 7.8% frequency; and in a third patient with ganglioglioma the BRAF p. Val600Glu variant at 3.2% frequency. To determine if cerebrospinal fluid cell-free DNA was brain-derived, whole-genome bisulphite sequencing was performed and brain-specific DNA methylation patterns were found to be significantly enriched (P = 0.03). Our proof of principle study shows that cerebrospinal fluid liquid biopsy is valuable in investigating mosaic neurological disorders where brain tissue is unavailable.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian C.-H. Chiu ◽  
Chang Chen ◽  
Qiancheng You ◽  
Rudyard Chiu ◽  
Girish Venkataraman ◽  
...  

AbstractThe 5-methylcytosines (5mC) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL). However, the role of 5-hydroxymethylcytosines (5hmC) that are generated from 5mC through active demethylation, in lymphomagenesis is unknown. We profiled genome-wide 5hmC in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from 73 newly diagnosed patients with DLBCL and FL. We identified 294 differentially modified genes between DLBCL and FL. The differential 5hmC in the DLBCL/FL-differentiating genes co-localized with enhancer marks H3K4me1 and H3K27ac. A four-gene panel (CNN2, HMG20B, ACRBP, IZUMO1) robustly represented the overall 5hmC modification pattern that distinguished FL from DLBCL with an area under curve of 88.5% in the testing set. The median 5hmC modification levels in signature genes showed potential for separating patients for risk of all-cause mortality. This study provides evidence that genome-wide 5hmC profiles in cfDNA differ between DLBCL and FL and could be exploited as a non-invasive approach.


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Barbosa ◽  
Ana Peixoto ◽  
Pedro Pinto ◽  
Manuela Pinheiro ◽  
Manuel R. Teixeira

AbstractCirculating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) consists of small fragments of DNA that circulate freely in the bloodstream. In cancer patients, a fraction of cfDNA is derived from tumour cells, therefore containing the same genetic and epigenetic alterations, and is termed circulating cell-free tumour DNA. The potential use of cfDNA, the so-called ‘liquid biopsy’, as a non-invasive cancer biomarker has recently received a lot of attention. The present review will focus on studies concerning the potential clinical applications of cfDNA in ovarian cancer patients.


2013 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. S52
Author(s):  
S. Zeinali ◽  
F. Savadkoohi ◽  
A. Farzad ◽  
H. Bagherian ◽  
S. Sarhadi ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy K. Kim ◽  
Selena Y. Lin ◽  
Surbhi Jain ◽  
Yixiao Cui ◽  
Terence Gade ◽  
...  

AbstractCell-free DNA (cfDNA) from blood has become a promising analyte for cancer genetic liquid biopsy. Urinary cfDNA has been shown to contain mutations associated with non-genitourologic cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we evaluate urine as a noninvasive alternative to blood-based liquid biopsy in both germline and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) genotyping in HCC. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR), whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and targeted NGS, DNA isolated from blood or urine of patients with HCC was analyzed for overall genome coverage, HCC hotspot coverage, and germline or somatic mutation concordance. Targeted NGS of plasma and urine cfDNA was also performed for detection of somatic variants. We found urine cfDNA, similar to plasma cfDNA, showed a major mononucleosomal species of 150-180 bp in both healthy individuals and patients with HCC. By WGS, overall genome coverage breadth was similar between urine and plasma cfDNA, with higher fraction of covered cancer-associated mutation hotspots in urine cfDNA. qPCR analyses of HCC-associated mutations (TP53, CTNNB1, and TERT) in 101 patients with HCC revealed 78% overall concordance between plasma and urine. Targeted NGS of HCC-associated gene regions in additional 15 HCC patients showed a 97% overall position-level concordance between plasma and urine cfDNA. Collectively, urine DNA can potentially be used as a completely noninvasive liquid biopsy for HCC.Significance StatementHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer worldwide and the fastest growing gastrointestinal cancer in the U.S. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) which originates from various cells undergoing apoptosis or necrosis including tumor cells, is present in all body fluids levels including urine. Urinary cfDNA isolated from patients with HCC showed a similar fragment size distribution, overall genome coverage, and comparable sensitivity for detecting HCC-associated variants compared to plasma cfDNA. Urine was also determined to be a reliable source of germline genotype information, similar to peripheral blood mononuclear cells in blood-based liquid biopsies. Urine cfDNA can be used as a completely non-invasive liquid biopsy in HCC.


Author(s):  
Eivor Alette Laugsand ◽  
Siv Sellæg Brenne ◽  
Frank Skorpen

Abstract Purpose Methylated cell-free DNA in liquid biopsies are promising non-invasive biomarkers for colorectal cancer (CRC). Optimal markers would have high sensitivity and specificity for early detection of CRC and could be detected in more than one type of material from the patient. We systematically reviewed the literature on DNA methylation markers of colorectal cancer, detected in more than one type of material, regarding their potential as contributors to a panel for screening and follow-up of CRC. Methods The databases MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically searched. Data extraction and review was performed by two authors independently. Agreement between methylation status in tissue and other materials (blood/stool/urine) was analyzed using the McNemar test and Cohen’s kappa. Results From the 51 included studies, we identified seven single markers with sensitivity ≥ 75% and specificity ≥ 90% for CRC. We also identified one promising plasma panel and two stool panels. The correspondence of methylation status was evaluated as very good for four markers, but only marginal for most of the other markers investigated (12 of 21). Conclusion The included studies reported only some of the variables and markers of interest and included few patients. Hence, a meta-analysis was not possible at this point. Larger, prospective studies must be designed to study the discordant detection of markers in tissue and liquid biopsies. When reporting their findings, such studies should use a standardized format.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8846
Author(s):  
Raimonda Kubiliute ◽  
Sonata Jarmalaite

Renal cell carcinomas (RCC) account for 2–3% of the global cancer burden and are characterized by the highest mortality rate among all genitourinary cancers. However, excluding conventional imagining approaches, there are no reliable diagnostic and prognostic tools available for clinical use at present. Liquid biopsies, such as urine, serum, and plasma, contain a significant amount of tumor-derived nucleic acids, which may serve as non-invasive biomarkers that are particularly useful for early cancer detection, follow-up, and personalization of treatment. Changes in epigenetic phenomena, such as DNA methylation level, expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), are observed early during cancer development and are easily detectable in biofluids when morphological changes are still undetermined by conventional diagnostic tools. Here, we reviewed recent advances made in the development of liquid biopsy-derived DNA methylation-, miRNAs- and lncRNAs-based biomarkers for RCC, with an emphasis on the performance characteristics. In the last two decades, a mass of circulating epigenetic biomarkers of RCC were suggested, however, most of the studies done thus far analyzed biomarkers selected from the literature, used relatively miniature, local, and heterogeneous cohorts, and suffered from a lack of sufficient validations. In summary, for improved translation into the clinical setting, there is considerable demand for the validation of the existing pool of RCC biomarkers and the discovery of novel ones with better performance and clinical utility.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Noushmehr ◽  
TS Sabedot ◽  
TM Malta ◽  
K Nelson ◽  
J Snyder ◽  
...  

SUMMARYGenome-wide DNA methylation profiling has shown that epigenetic abnormalities are biologically important in glioma and can be used to classify these tumors into distinct prognostic groups. Thus far, DNA profiling has required surgically resected glioma tissue; however, gliomas release tumoral material into biofluids, such as blood and cerebrospinal fluid, providing an opportunity for a minimally invasive testing. While prior studies have shown that genetic and epigenetic markers can be detected in blood or cerebrospinal fluid (e.g., liquid biopsy [LB]), there has been low sensitivity for tumor-specific markers. We hypothesize that the low sensitivity is due to the targeted assay methods. Therefore, we profiled the genome-wide CpG methylation levels in DNA of tumor tissue and cell-free DNA in serum of glioma patients, to identify non-invasive epigenetic LB (eLB) markers in the serum that reflect the characteristics of the tumor tissue. From the epigenetic profiles of serum from patients diagnosed with glioma (N=15IDHmutant and N=7IDHwildtype) and with epilepsy (N=3), we defined glioma-specific andIDH-specific eLB signatures (Glioma-eLB andIDH-eLB, respectively). The epigenetic profiles of the matched tissue demonstrate that these eLB signatures reflected the signature of the tumor. Through cross-validation we show that Glioma-eLB can accurately predict a patient’s glioma from those with other neoplasias (N=6 Colon; N=14 Pituitary; N=3 Breast; N=4 Lung), non-neoplastic immunological conditions (N=22 sepsis; N=9 pancreatic islet transplantation), and from healthy individuals (sensitivity: 98%; specificity: 99%). Finally,IDH-eLB includes promoter methylated markers associated with genes known to be involved in glioma tumorigenesis (PVT1andCXCR6). The application of the non-invasive eLB signature discovered in this study has the potential to complement the standard of care for patients harboring glioma.


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