scholarly journals Specific and Sensitive Detection of Neuroblastoma mRNA Markers by Multiplex RT-qPCR

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 150
Author(s):  
Lieke M. J. van Zogchel ◽  
Lily Zappeij-Kannegieter ◽  
Ahmad Javadi ◽  
Marjolein Lugtigheid ◽  
Nina U. Gelineau ◽  
...  

mRNA RT-qPCR is shown to be a very sensitive technique to detect minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with neuroblastoma. Multiple mRNA markers are known to detect heterogeneous neuroblastoma cells in bone marrow (BM) or blood from patients. However, the limited volumes of BM and blood available can hamper the detection of multiple markers. To make optimal use of these samples, we developed a multiplex RT-qPCR for the detection of MRD in neuroblastoma. GUSB and PHOX2B were tested as single markers. The adrenergic markers TH, GAP43, CHRNA3 and DBH and mesenchymal markers POSTN, PRRX1 and FMO3 were tested in multiplex. Using control blood and BM, we established new thresholds for positivity. Comparison of multiplex and singleplex RT-qPCR results from 21 blood and 24 BM samples from neuroblastoma patients demonstrated a comparable sensitivity. With this multiplex RT-qPCR, we are able to test seven different neuroblastoma mRNA markers, which overcomes tumor heterogeneity and improves sensitivity of MRD detection, even in those samples of low RNA quantity. With resources and time being saved, reduction in sample volume and consumables can assist in the introduction of MRD by RT-qPCR into clinical practice.

Hematology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-45
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Yee ◽  
Noopur Raje

Abstract Improvements in multiple myeloma therapy have led to deeper responses that are beyond the limit of detection by historical immunohistochemistry and conventional flow cytometry in bone marrow samples. In parallel, more sensitive techniques for assessing minimal residual disease (MRD) through next-generation flow cytometry and sequencing have been developed and are now routinely available. Deep responses when measured by these assays correspond with improved outcomes and survival. We review the data supporting MRD testing as well as its limitations and how it may fit in with current and future clinical practice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Rellick ◽  
Gangqing Hu ◽  
Debra Piktel ◽  
Karen H. Martin ◽  
Werner J. Geldenhuys ◽  
...  

AbstractB-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is characterized by accumulation of immature hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow, a well-established sanctuary site for leukemic cell survival during treatment. While standard of care treatment results in remission in most patients, a small population of patients will relapse, due to the presence of minimal residual disease (MRD) consisting of dormant, chemotherapy-resistant tumor cells. To interrogate this clinically relevant population of treatment refractory cells, we developed an in vitro cell model in which human ALL cells are grown in co-culture with human derived bone marrow stromal cells or osteoblasts. Within this co-culture, tumor cells are found in suspension, lightly attached to the top of the adherent cells, or buried under the adherent cells in a population that is phase dim (PD) by light microscopy. PD cells are dormant and chemotherapy-resistant, consistent with the population of cells that underlies MRD. In the current study, we characterized the transcriptional signature of PD cells by RNA-Seq, and these data were compared to a published expression data set derived from human MRD B-cell ALL patients. Our comparative analyses revealed that the PD cell population is markedly similar to the MRD expression patterns from the primary cells isolated from patients. We further identified genes and key signaling pathways that are common between the PD tumor cells from co-culture and patient derived MRD cells as potential therapeutic targets for future studies.


2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (20) ◽  
pp. 3853-3858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Y. Cheung ◽  
M. Serena Lo Piccolo ◽  
Brian H. Kushner ◽  
Nai-Kong V. Cheung

Purpose: A promising treatment strategy for stage 4 neuroblastoma patients is the repeated application of anti-GD2 immunotherapy after activating myeloid effectors with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). To use early marrow response as a prognostic marker is particularly relevant for patients not likely to benefit from this therapy. Patients and Methods: Eighty-six stage 4 neuroblastoma patients older than 1 year at diagnosis were classified in four clinical groups on protocol entry: complete remission or very good partial remission (n = 33), primary refractory (n = 33), secondary refractory (n = 10), and progressive disease (n = 10). Bone marrow samples collected before and following treatment were assayed for GD2 synthase mRNA by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Response and survival analyses were performed on posttreatment samples before the third cycle at 1.8 months from protocol entry. Results: GD2 synthase mRNA was evident in pretreatment marrow samples of the four clinical groups (42%, 52%, 60%, and 80% of samples, respectively), with median transcript level of 10.0, 16.6, 26.5, and 87.2, respectively. This marker became negative following antibody plus GM-CSF in 77% of complete remission or very good partial remission, 45% of primary refractory, 25% of secondary refractory, and 0% of progressive disease group. Progression-free survival was statistically different between responder and nonresponder groups (P < .0001). Among patients with minimal residual disease, molecular responders had a significantly lower risk of disease progression at a median follow-up of 29.8 months (P = .0001). Conclusion: GD2 synthase mRNA is a sensitive response marker of neuroblastoma in the bone marrow. It is particularly useful for minimal residual disease evaluation and may potentially be useful as an early predictor of resistance to antibody plus GM-CSF immunotherapy.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 111 (6) ◽  
pp. 2984-2990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stella M. Davies ◽  
Michael J. Borowitz ◽  
Gary L. Rosner ◽  
Kristin Ritz ◽  
Meenakshi Devidas ◽  
...  

Abstract Minimal residual disease (MRD) as a marker of antileukemic drug efficacy is being used to assess risk status and, in some cases, to adjust the intensity of therapy. Within known prognostic categories, the determinants of MRD are not known. We measured MRD by flow cytometry at day 8 (in blood) and at day 28 (in bone marrow) of induction therapy in more than 1000 children enrolled in Pediatric Oncology Group therapy protocols 9904, 9905, and 9906. We classified patients as “best risk” if they had cleared MRD by day 8 of therapy and as “worst risk” if they had MRD remaining in bone marrow at day 28, and tested whether MRD was related to polymorphisms in 16 loci in genes hypothesized to influence response to therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). After adjusting for known prognostic features such as presence of the TEL-AML1 rearrangement, National Cancer Institute (NCI) risk status, ploidy, and race, the G allele of a common polymorphism in chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) was associated with more favorable MRD status than the A allele (P = .009, logistic regression), when comparing “best” and “worst” risk groups. These data are consistent with growing evidence that both acquired and host genetics influence response to cancer therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8010-8010
Author(s):  
Noemi Puig ◽  
Bruno Paiva ◽  
Teresa Contreras ◽  
M. Teresa Cedena ◽  
Laura Rosiñol ◽  
...  

8010 Background: Analysis of minimal residual disease (MRD) in the bone marrow (BM) of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) is accepted by the IMWG to evaluate treatment efficacy and is a well-established prognostic factor. However, there is an unmet need to explore the clinical value of MRD in peripheral blood (PB). Methods: Newly diagnosed MM patients enrolled in the GEM2012MENOS65 trial received six induction (Ind) cycles of bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (VRD) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and 2 further cycles of consolidation (Cons) with VRD. MRD was analyzed in BM using Next Generation Flow (NGF) and in serum by Mass Spectrometry (MS) using IgG/A/M, κ, λ, free κ and free λ specific beads, both after Ind, at day 100 after ASCT, and after Cons. Sequential samples from the first 184 patients were analyzed. Results: Results of both methods were in agreement (NGF+/MS+ and NGF-/MS-) in 83% of cases post-Ind (152/184), 80% post-ASCT (139/174) and 76% post-Cons (128/169). Stratifying by the log range of MRD by NGF, discordances (NGF+/MS- and NGF-/MS+) seemed to increase at the lower MRD ranges, being 22%, 21% and 19% from ≥10−5 to <10−4 and 21%, 21%, 23% at ≥x10−6(post-Ind, ASCT and Cons, respectively). Analysis of discordances showed that they could be partly explained by the higher percentages of cases found to be positive by MS as compared by NGF at part of the time-points analyzed and at each log range of MRD. From ≥10−5 to <10−4, MRD was detected by NGF in 36%, 28%, 20% of cases post-Ind, ASCT and Cons, respectively vs MS in 37%, 29%, 21% of them; at ≥x10−6, NGF was positive in 11%, 14%, 19% of cases vs MS in 23%, 19% and 16% of them. Considering NGF as a reference, the negative predictive value (NPV) of MS per MRD range (≥10−5 to <10−4 and ≥x10−6, respectively) was: post-Ind: 83% (p<0,0001), 94% (p=0,034); post-ASCT 86% (p<0,0001), 90% (p=0,022); post-Cons 89% (p<0,0001), 85% (p=0,0469). Despite these discordances, the prognostic value of each technique in terms of undetectable MRD and progression-free survival (PFS) was consistent at all time-points (Table) and further, discordant cases (NGF+/MS- and NGF-/MS+) did not display a significantly different PFS as compared to NGF-/MS- cases. Conclusions: The results of MRD assessed by NGF in BM and by MS in PB show a significant concordance and are associated with a similar prognostic value analyzed in terms of PFS. Given its high NPV, MRD in peripheral blood by MS provides a gateway for BM aspiration/biopsy and MRD assessment by NGF.[Table: see text]


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