serum-and-plasma-copy-number-detection-using-real-time-pcr

Serum and Plasma Copy Number Detection Using Real-time PCR

Serum and plasma cell free DNA (cfDNA) has been shown as an informative, non-invasive source of biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring, ...

Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS

We investigated the role of 18F-fluorocholine positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FCH-PET/CT) in the early evaluation of abiraterone and outcome prediction in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

Early outcome prediction on 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients treated with abiraterone.

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the association of circulating AR copy number (CN) and outcome in a cohort of patients with advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) treated with enzalutamide after docetaxel. Fifty-nine CRPC patients were evaluated. AR CN was analyzed with real-time and digital PCR in the serum collected at starting of treatment. Progressive disease was defined on the basis of Prostate Cancer Working Group 2 criteria. AR CN gain was found in 21 of 59 (36%) patients. Median baseline PSA, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase levels were higher in the AR CN gained group (p = 0.007, p = 0.003, p = 0.0009, respectively). Median PFS of patients with AR CN gain was 2.4 (95%CI: 1.9-3.2) vs. 4.0 months (95%CI: 3.0-6.5) of those with no gain (p = 0.0004). Median OS of patients with AR CN gain was 6.1 (95%CI: 3.4-8.6) vs. 14.1 months (95%CI: 8.2-20.5) of those with no gain (p = 0.0003). At multivariate analysis, PSA decline ≥ 50% and AR CN showed a significant association with PFS (p = 0.008 and p = 0.002, respectively) and OS (p = 0.009 and p = 0.001, respectively). These findings indicate that the detection of circulating AR CN gain is a promising non-invasive biomarker for outcome prediction to enzalutamide treatment in CRPC patients.

Circulating AR copy number and outcome to enzalutamide in docetaxel-treated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

In this retrospective analysis, we explored the prognostic and predictive value of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), based on lymphocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts, at baseline and changes at week 6 during first-line sunitinib in patients with metastatic renal cell cancer (RCC).

Systemic immune-inflammation index predicts the clinical outcome in patients with metastatic renal cell cancer treated with sunitinib.

The increasing knowledge of the molecular pathogenesis of cancer and the rapid development of new molecular techniques are promoting the study of early molecular alterations involved in cancer development in body fluids. Specific genetic and epigenetic alterations could be found in plasma, serum, and urine cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and could potentially be used as diagnostic biomarkers for several types of cancers. This review focuses on the role of cfDNA in diagnosis: a PubMed search was performed by selecting papers according to journal impact factor and robustness of statistical analysis. A comprehensive evaluation of "liquid biopsy", including cfDNA analysis, will be one of the critical challenges to better understand the early mechanisms of cancer development.

Cell-free DNA as a diagnostic marker for cancer: current insights.

The association between choline uptake and androgen receptor (AR) expression is suggested by the upregulation of choline kinase-alpha in prostate cancer. Recently, detection of AR aberration in cell-free DNA as well as early 18F-fluorocholine positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FCH-PET/CT) were associated with outcome in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients treated with abiraterone and enzalutamide. We aimed to make a direct comparison between circulating AR copy number (CN) and choline uptake at FCH-PET/CT. We analysed 80 mCRPC patients progressing after docetaxel treated with abiraterone (n = 47) or enzalutamide (n = 33). We analysed AR CN from plasma samples using digital PCR and Taqman CN assays and total lesion activity (TLA) and metabolic tumor volume (MTV) on FCH-PET/CT at baseline. A meaningful correlation was showed among AR gain and TLA/MTV compared to AR non-gained cases (P = 0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively), independently from type of treatment. Multivariate analysis revealed that AR CN and only TLA were associated with both shorter PFS (P < 0.0009 and P = 0.026, respectively) and OS (P < 0.031 and P = 0.039, respectively). AR gain appeared significantly correlated with choline uptake represented mainly by TLA. Further prospective studies are warranted to better address this pathway of AR-signalling and to identify multiplex biomarker strategies including plasma AR and FCH-PET/CT in mCRPC patients.

Circulating androgen receptor combined with 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT metabolic activity and outcome to androgen receptor signalling-directed therapies in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Vincenza Conteduca

Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS

Serum and Plasma Copy Number Detection Using Real-time PCR