Cell-Free DNA Variant Sequencing Using CTC-Depleted Blood for Comprehensive Liquid Biopsy Testing in Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Cell-Free DNA Variant Sequencing Using CTC-Depleted Blood for Comprehensive Liquid Biopsy Testing in Metastatic Breast Cancer. Cell Transplant. 2020 Jan-Dec;29:963689720925057 Authors: Maltoni R, Palleschi M, Ravaioli S, Tumedei MM, Rocca A, Melegari E, Altini M, Puccetti M, Manunta S, Bravaccini S Abstract Keup and colleagues provide liquid biopsy preliminary results by sequencing variants in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) "all from one tube" format, in order to use the same blood sample under the same isolation conditions of both analytes to reach an unbiased comparability and consistency. We appreciated the attempt of the authors to improve technical procedures in liquid biopsy research area, but we wanted to raise several issues related to cfDNA detection, reporting our research experience. This is a feasibility study as the authors analyzed only one sample from a small case series at an advanced line of treatment. In the clinical practice to monitor the disease and predict the treatment response, the analysis should be done at multiple time points. We have previously demonstrated that the quantity and the integrity of the cfDNA are not useful to determine the evolution of early breast cancer (bc), maybe due to the fact that cfDNA is not strictly related to cancer but also to an inflammatory status. Given that a high content of cfDNA could reflect inflammatory processes, we decided to i...
Source: Cell Transplantation - Category: Cytology Authors: Tags: Cell Transplant Source Type: research