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Sacdalan DB, Ul Haq S, Lok BH. Plasma Cell-Free Tumor Methylome as a Biomarker in Solid Tumors: Biology and Applications. Curr Oncol 2024; 31:482-500. [PMID: 38248118 PMCID: PMC10814449 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is a fundamental mechanism of epigenetic control in cells and its dysregulation is strongly implicated in cancer development. Cancers possess an extensively hypomethylated genome with focal regions of hypermethylation at CPG islands. Due to the highly conserved nature of cancer-specific methylation, its detection in cell-free DNA in plasma using liquid biopsies constitutes an area of interest in biomarker research. The advent of next-generation sequencing and newer computational technologies have allowed for the development of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers that utilize methylation profiling to diagnose disease and stratify risk. Methylome-based predictive biomarkers can determine the response to anti-cancer therapy. An additional emerging application of these biomarkers is in minimal residual disease monitoring. Several key challenges need to be addressed before cfDNA-based methylation biomarkers become fully integrated into practice. The first relates to the biology and stability of cfDNA. The second concerns the clinical validity and generalizability of methylation-based assays, many of which are cancer type-specific. The third involves their practicability, which is a stumbling block for translating technologies from bench to clinic. Future work on developing pan-cancer assays with their respective validities confirmed using well-designed, prospective clinical trials is crucial in pushing for the greater use of these tools in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Benedict Sacdalan
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Room 2374, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Sami Ul Haq
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Benjamin H. Lok
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Room 2374, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, Room 15-701, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
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MacManus M, Kirby L, Blyth B, Banks O, Martin OA, Yeung MM, Plumridge N, Shaw M, Hegi-Johnson F, Siva S, Ball D, Wong SQ. Early circulating tumor DNA dynamics at the commencement of curative-intent radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for NSCLC. Clin Transl Radiat Oncol 2023; 43:100682. [PMID: 37808452 PMCID: PMC10551836 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctro.2023.100682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The kinetics of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) release following commencement of radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy may reflect early tumour cell killing. We hypothesised that an increase in ctDNA may be observed after the first fraction of radiotherapy and that this could have clinical significance. Materials and methods ctDNA analysis was performed as part of a prospective, observational clinical biomarker study of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, treated with curative-intent radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Blood was collected at predefined intervals before, during (including 24 h after fraction 1 of radiotherapy) and after radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy. Mutation-specific droplet digital PCR assays used to track ctDNA levels during and after treatment. Results Sequential ctDNA results are available for 14 patients with known tumor-based mutations, including in EGFR, KRAS and TP53, with a median follow-up of 723 days (range 152 to 1110). Treatments delivered were fractionated radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy, in 2-2.75 Gy fractions (n = 12), or stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR, n = 2). An increase in ctDNA was observed after fraction 1 in 3/12 patients treated with fractionated radiotherapy with a complete set of results, including in 2 cases where ctDNA was initially undetectable. Neither SABR patient had detectable ctDNA immediately before or after radiotherapy, but one of these later relapsed systemically with a high detected ctDNA concentration. Conclusions A rapid increase in ctDNA levels was observed after one fraction of fractionated radiotherapy in three cases. Further molecular characterization will be required to understand if a "spike" in ctDNA levels could represent rapid initial tumor cell destruction and could have clinical value as a surrogate for early treatment response and/or as a means of enriching ctDNA for mutational profiling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael MacManus
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Laura Kirby
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Benjamin Blyth
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Owen Banks
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Olga A. Martin
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Miriam M. Yeung
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Mark Shaw
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Fiona Hegi-Johnson
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Shankar Siva
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - David Ball
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen Q. Wong
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Pan Y, Zhang JT, Gao X, Chen ZY, Yan B, Tan PX, Yang XR, Gao W, Gong Y, Tian Z, Liu SYM, Lin H, Sun H, Huang J, Liu SY, Yan HH, Dong S, Xu CR, Chen HJ, Wang Z, Li P, Guan Y, Wang BC, Yang JJ, Tu HY, Yang XN, Zhong WZ, Xia X, Yi X, Zhou Q, Wu YL. Dynamic circulating tumor DNA during chemoradiotherapy predicts clinical outcomes for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients. Cancer Cell 2023; 41:1763-1773.e4. [PMID: 37816331 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
The value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) during chemoradiotherapy (CRT) remains unclear but is critical for detecting molecular residual disease (MRD). In this prospective study, we sequenced 761 blood samples from 139 patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with definitive radiation therapy (RT). ctDNA concentrations showed a significantly declining trend as CRT progressed at on-RT and after-RT time points versus baseline. Thirty-eight (27.3%) patients with early undetectable ctDNA at both on-RT (RT reached 40 Gy) and after-RT time points, indicating early response to CRT, had better survival outcomes for both with or without consolidation immune checkpoint inhibitors. Longitudinal undetectable MRD was found in 20.1% patients. The 2-year cancer-specific progression-free survival of these patients was 88.4%, corresponding to a potentially cured population. Further analysis revealed that pretreatment ctDNA variants serve as an essential MRD informed source. These data provide clinical insights for ctDNA-MRD detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Pan
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jia-Tao Zhang
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuan Gao
- Geneplus-Beijing Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Yong Chen
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Bingfa Yan
- Geneplus-Beijing Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Pei-Xin Tan
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao-Rong Yang
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Gao
- Geneplus-Beijing Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhua Gong
- Geneplus-Beijing Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zihan Tian
- Geneplus-Beijing Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Si-Yang Maggie Liu
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine; Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Chinese Thoracic Oncology Group (CTONG), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hui Lin
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jie Huang
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Si-Yang Liu
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hong-Hong Yan
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Song Dong
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chong-Rui Xu
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hua-Jun Chen
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Pansong Li
- Geneplus-Beijing Institute, Beijing, China
| | | | - Bin-Chao Wang
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jin-Ji Yang
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hai-Yan Tu
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xue-Ning Yang
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen-Zhao Zhong
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | | | - Xin Yi
- Geneplus-Beijing Institute, Beijing, China.
| | - Qing Zhou
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yi-Long Wu
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Chinese Thoracic Oncology Group (CTONG), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Kim V, Guberina M, Bechrakis NE, Lohmann DR, Zeschnigk M, Le Guin CHD. Release of Cell-Free Tumor DNA in the Plasma of Uveal Melanoma Patients Under Radiotherapy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2023; 64:35. [PMID: 37862025 PMCID: PMC10599159 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.13.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Uveal melanoma (UM) is a tumor of the eye that metastasizes in approximately half of cases. Prognostic testing requires accessibility to tumor tissue, which is usually not available with eye-preserving therapies. Noninvasive approaches to prognostic testing that provide valuable information for patient care are therefore needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of circulating cell-free plasma DNA analysis in UM patients undergoing brachytherapy. Methods The study recruited 26 uveal melanoma patients referred to the department between February and October 2020. Blood samples were collected at various time points before, during, and after treatment, and deep amplicon sequencing was used to identify oncogenic variant alleles of the GNAQ and GNA11 genes, which serve as indicators for the presence of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Results The results showed that all patients were ctDNA negative before brachytherapy. In 31% of patients, ctDNA was detected during therapy. The variant allele fraction of GNAQ or GNA11 alleles in ctDNA positive samples ranged from 0.24% to 2% and correlates with the largest basal diameter and thickness of the tumor. Conclusions The findings suggest that brachytherapy increases the presence of tumor DNA in the plasma of UM patients. Thus ctDNA analysis may offer a noninvasive approach for prognostic testing. However, efforts are still required to lower the limit of detection for tumor-specific genetic alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Kim
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Maja Guberina
- Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Nikolaos E Bechrakis
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Dietmar R Lohmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Zeschnigk
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Claudia H D Le Guin
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Clinical utility of liquid biopsy and integrative genomic profiling in early-stage and oligometastatic cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. Br J Cancer 2023; 128:857-876. [PMID: 36550207 PMCID: PMC9977775 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-02102-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liquid biopsy and Integrative Genomic Profiling (IGP) are yet to be implemented into routine Radiation Oncology. Here we assess the utility of germline, tumour and circulating cell-free DNA-based genomic analyses for the clinical management of early-stage and oligometastatic cancer patients treated by precision radiotherapy. METHODS We performed germline, tissue- and liquid biopsy NGS panels on 50 early-stage/oligometastatic cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. We also monitored ctDNA variants in serial liquid biopsies collected during radiotherapy and follow-up and evaluated the clinical utility of such comprehensive approach. RESULTS The integration of different genomic studies revealed that only 1/3 of the liquid biopsy variants are of tumour origin. Altogether, 55 tumour variants (affecting 3/4 of the patients) were considered potentially actionable (for treatment and prognosis), whereas potential follow-up biomarkers were identified in all cases. Germline cancer-predisposing variants were present in three patients, which would have not been eligible for hereditary cancer testing according to clinical guidelines. The presence of detectable ctDNA variants before radiotherapy was associated with progression-free survival both in oligometastatic patients and in those with early-stage. CONCLUSIONS IGP provides both valuable and actionable information for personalised decision-making in Radiation Oncology.
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Pesta M, Shetti D, Kulda V, Knizkova T, Houfkova K, Bagheri MS, Svaton M, Polivka J. Applications of Liquid Biopsies in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12081799. [PMID: 35892510 PMCID: PMC9330570 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12081799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of liquid biopsy as an analysis tool for non-solid tissue carried out for the purpose of providing information about solid tumors was introduced approximately 20 years ago. Additional to the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), the liquid biopsy approach quickly included the analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and other tumor-derived markers such as circulating cell-free RNA or extracellular vesicles. Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive technique for detecting multiple cancer-associated biomarkers that is easy to obtain and can reflect the characteristics of the entire tumor mass. Currently, ctDNA is the key component of the liquid biopsy approach from the point of view of the prognosis assessment, prediction, and monitoring of the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. ctDNA in NSCLC patients carries variants or rearrangements that drive carcinogenesis, such as those in EGFR, KRAS, ALK, or ROS1. Due to advances in pharmacology, these variants are the subject of targeted therapy. Therefore, the detection of these variants has gained attention in clinical medicine. Recently, methods based on qPCR (ddPCR, BEAMing) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) are the most effective approaches for ctDNA analysis. This review addresses various aspects of the use of liquid biopsy with an emphasis on ctDNA as a biomarker in NSCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Pesta
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Alej Svobody 1655/76, 323 00 Plzen, Czech Republic; (D.S.); (T.K.); (K.H.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +420-377-593-261
| | - Dattatrya Shetti
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Alej Svobody 1655/76, 323 00 Plzen, Czech Republic; (D.S.); (T.K.); (K.H.)
| | - Vlastimil Kulda
- Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Karlovarska 48, 301 66 Plzen, Czech Republic;
| | - Tereza Knizkova
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Alej Svobody 1655/76, 323 00 Plzen, Czech Republic; (D.S.); (T.K.); (K.H.)
| | - Katerina Houfkova
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Alej Svobody 1655/76, 323 00 Plzen, Czech Republic; (D.S.); (T.K.); (K.H.)
| | - Mahyar Sharif Bagheri
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Karlovarska 48, 301 66 Plzen, Czech Republic; (M.S.B.); (J.P.)
| | - Martin Svaton
- Department of Pneumology and Phthisiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, University Hospital in Pilsen, E. Benese 13, 301 00 Plzen, Czech Republic;
| | - Jiri Polivka
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Karlovarska 48, 301 66 Plzen, Czech Republic; (M.S.B.); (J.P.)
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Breadner DA, Vincent MD, Correa R, Black M, Warner A, Sanatani M, Bhat V, Morris C, Jones G, Allan A, Palma DA, Raphael J. Exploitation of treatment induced tumor lysis to enhance the sensitivity of ctDNA analysis: A first-in-human pilot study. Lung Cancer 2022; 165:145-151. [PMID: 35124411 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2022.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Blood-based liquid biopsies examining circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) have increasing applications in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Limitations in sensitivity remain a barrier to ctDNA replacing tissue-based testing. We hypothesized that testing immediately after starting treatment would yield an increased abundance of ctDNA in plasma because of tumor lysis, allowing for the detection of genetic alterations that were occult in baseline testing. METHODS Three prospective cohorts of patients with stage III/IV NSCLC were enrolled. Cohort 1 (C1) contained patients starting platinum doublet chemoradiation (n = 10) and cohort 2 (C2) initiating platinum doublet cytotoxic chemotherapy ± immunotherapy (n = 10). Cohort 3 (C3) contained patients receiving palliative radiation. Two baseline samples were collected. In C1 and C2, subsequent samples were collected 3, 6, 24 and 48 h post initiation of chemotherapy. Patients in C3 had samples collected immediately prior to the next three radiotherapy fractions. Samples were analyzed for ctDNA using the 36-gene amplicon-based NGS Inivata InVisionFirst®-Lung assay. RESULTS A total of 40 patients were enrolled. Detectable ctDNA was present at baseline in 32 patients (80%), 4 additional patients (50%) had detectable ctDNA in post-treatment samples. Seven patients with detectable ctDNA at baseline (23%) had new genetic alterations detected in post-treatment samples. Mutant molecule numbers increased with treatment in 24 of 31 (77%) pts with detectable ctDNA. ctDNA levels peaked a median of 7 h (IQR:2-26 h) after the initiation of chemotherapy and a median of 2 days (IQR:1-3 days) after radiation was commenced. CONCLUSION ctDNA levels increase in the hours to days after starting treatment. ctDNA testing in the acute post-treatment phase can yield results that were not evident in pre-treatment testing. Application of this principle could improve ctDNA utility as an alternate to tissue-based testing and improve sensitivity for the detection of treatment-resistant clones.(NCT03986463).
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Breadner
- Division of Medical Oncology, London Regional Cancer Program, 800 Commissioners Road East, N6A5W9 London, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Mark D Vincent
- Division of Medical Oncology, London Regional Cancer Program, 800 Commissioners Road East, N6A5W9 London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rohann Correa
- Division of Radiation Oncology, London Regional Cancer Program, 800 Commissioners Road East, N6A5W9 London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Morgan Black
- Division of Medical Oncology, London Regional Cancer Program, 800 Commissioners Road East, N6A5W9 London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew Warner
- Division of Radiation Oncology, London Regional Cancer Program, 800 Commissioners Road East, N6A5W9 London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Sanatani
- Division of Medical Oncology, London Regional Cancer Program, 800 Commissioners Road East, N6A5W9 London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vasudeva Bhat
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, 1151 Richmond St, N6A 5C1 London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Clive Morris
- Inivata Inc., 7020 Kit Creek Road, Suite 140, Research Triangle Park, 27560, NC, United States
| | - Greg Jones
- Inivata Inc., 7020 Kit Creek Road, Suite 140, Research Triangle Park, 27560, NC, United States
| | - Alison Allan
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, 1151 Richmond St, N6A 5C1 London, Ontario, Canada
| | - David A Palma
- Division of Radiation Oncology, London Regional Cancer Program, 800 Commissioners Road East, N6A5W9 London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jacques Raphael
- Division of Medical Oncology, London Regional Cancer Program, 800 Commissioners Road East, N6A5W9 London, Ontario, Canada
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Boniface CT, Spellman PT. Blood, Toil, and Taxoteres: Biological Determinates of Treatment-Induce ctDNA Dynamics for Interpreting Tumor Response. Pathol Oncol Res 2022; 28:1610103. [PMID: 35665409 PMCID: PMC9160182 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2022.1610103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Collection and analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is one of the few methods of liquid biopsy that measures generalizable and tumor specific molecules, and is one of the most promising approaches in assessing the effectiveness of cancer care. Clinical assays that utilize ctDNA are commercially available for the identification of actionable mutations prior to treatment and to assess minimal residual disease after treatment. There is currently no clinical ctDNA assay specifically intended to monitor disease response during treatment, partially due to the complex challenge of understanding the biological sources of ctDNA and the underlying principles that govern its release. Although studies have shown pre- and post-treatment ctDNA levels can be prognostic, there is evidence that early, on-treatment changes in ctDNA levels are more accurate in predicting response. Yet, these results also vary widely among cohorts, cancer type, and treatment, likely due to the driving biology of tumor cell proliferation, cell death, and ctDNA clearance kinetics. To realize the full potential of ctDNA monitoring in cancer care, we may need to reorient our thinking toward the fundamental biological underpinnings of ctDNA release and dissemination from merely seeking convenient clinical correlates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher T. Boniface
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- *Correspondence: Christopher T. Boniface, ; Paul T. Spellman,
| | - Paul T. Spellman
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- *Correspondence: Christopher T. Boniface, ; Paul T. Spellman,
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Kuligina E, Moiseyenko F, Belukhin S, Stepanova E, Zakharova M, Chernobrivtseva V, Aliev I, Sharabura T, Moiseyenko V, Aleksakhina S, Laidus T, Martianov A, Kholmatov M, Whitehead A, Yanus G, Imyanitov E. Tumor irradiation may facilitate the detection of tumor-specific mutations in plasma. World J Clin Oncol 2021; 12:1215-1226. [PMID: 35070740 PMCID: PMC8716992 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v12.i12.1215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mutation-based analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising diagnostic tool for clinical oncology. However, it has low success rate because many cancer patients do not have detectable ctDNA in the bloodstream.
AIM To evaluate whether preoperative tumor irradiation results in a transient increase of plasma ctDNA concentration due to the induction of apoptosis in radiation-exposed cells.
METHODS This study focused on patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, because preoperative tumor irradiation is a part of their standard treatment plan. Nine subjects, whose tumors contained KRAS, NRAS or BRAF mutations, donated serial blood samples 1 h prior to the first fraction of irradiation (at baseline), immediately after the first fraction (time 0), and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h after the first fraction. The amount of mutated gene copies was measured by droplet digital PCR.
RESULTS Five out of nine patients were mutation-negative by ctDNA test at baseline; two of these subjects demonstrated an emergence of the mutated DNA copies in the bloodstream within the follow-up period. There were 4 patients, who had detectable ctDNA in the plasma at the start of the experiment; three of them showed an evident treatment-induced increase of the content of mutated RAS/RAF alleles.
CONCLUSION Local tumor irradiation may facilitate the detection of tumor-specific DNA in the bloodstream. These data justify further assessment of the clinical feasibility of irradiation-assisted liquid biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Kuligina
- Department of Tumor Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, St.-Petersburg 197758, Russia
- Department of Medical Genetics, St.-Petersburg Pediatric Medical University, St.-Petersburg 194100, Russia
| | - Fedor Moiseyenko
- Department of Therapy, City Cancer Center, St.-Petersburg 197758, Russia
| | - Sergey Belukhin
- Department of Surgery, City Cancer Center, St.-Petersburg 197758, Russia
| | | | - Maria Zakharova
- Department of Radiology, City Cancer Center, St.-Petersburg 197758, Russia
| | | | - Ikram Aliev
- Department of Surgery, City Cancer Center, St.-Petersburg 197758, Russia
| | - Tatiana Sharabura
- Department of Radiology, City Cancer Center, St.-Petersburg 197758, Russia
| | | | - Svetlana Aleksakhina
- Department of Tumor Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, St.-Petersburg 197758, Russia
- Department of Medical Genetics, St.-Petersburg Pediatric Medical University, St.-Petersburg 194100, Russia
| | - Tatiana Laidus
- Department of Tumor Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, St.-Petersburg 197758, Russia
| | - Aleksandr Martianov
- Department of Tumor Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, St.-Petersburg 197758, Russia
- Department of Medical Genetics, St.-Petersburg Pediatric Medical University, St.-Petersburg 194100, Russia
| | - Maksim Kholmatov
- Department of Tumor Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, St.-Petersburg 197758, Russia
| | - Aldon Whitehead
- Internal Medicine Residency Program, The University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - Grigoriy Yanus
- Department of Tumor Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, St.-Petersburg 197758, Russia
- Department of Medical Genetics, St.-Petersburg Pediatric Medical University, St.-Petersburg 194100, Russia
| | - Evgeny Imyanitov
- Department of Tumor Biology, N.N. Petrov Institute of Oncology, St.-Petersburg 197758, Russia
- Department of Medical Genetics, St.-Petersburg Pediatric Medical University, St.-Petersburg 194100, Russia
- Department of Oncology, I.I. Mechnikov Northwestern Medical University, St.-Petersburg 191015, Russia
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10
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Blomain ES, Moding EJ. Liquid Biopsies for Molecular Biology-Based Radiotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11267. [PMID: 34681925 PMCID: PMC8538046 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular alterations drive cancer initiation and evolution during development and in response to therapy. Radiotherapy is one of the most commonly employed cancer treatment modalities, but radiobiologic approaches for personalizing therapy based on tumor biology and individual risks remain to be defined. In recent years, analysis of circulating nucleic acids has emerged as a non-invasive approach to leverage tumor molecular abnormalities as biomarkers of prognosis and treatment response. Here, we evaluate the roles of circulating tumor DNA and related analyses as powerful tools for precision radiotherapy. We highlight emerging work advancing liquid biopsies beyond biomarker studies into translational research investigating tumor clonal evolution and acquired resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik S. Blomain
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
| | - Everett J. Moding
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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11
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Meng L, Xu J, Ye Y, Wang Y, Luo S, Gong X. The Combination of Radiotherapy With Immunotherapy and Potential Predictive Biomarkers for Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients. Front Immunol 2021; 12:723609. [PMID: 34621270 PMCID: PMC8490639 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.723609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy is an effective local treatment modality of NSCLC. Its capabilities of eliminating tumor cells by inducing double strand DNA (dsDNA) damage and modulating anti-tumor immune response in irradiated and nonirradiated sites have been elucidated. The novel ICIs therapy has brought hope to patients resistant to traditional treatment methods, including radiotherapy. The integration of radiotherapy with immunotherapy has shown improved efficacy to control tumor progression and prolong survival in NSCLC. In this context, biomarkers that help choose the most effective treatment modality for individuals and avoid unnecessary toxicities caused by ineffective treatment are urgently needed. This article summarized the effects of radiation in the tumor immune microenvironment and the mechanisms involved. Outcomes of multiple clinical trials investigating immuno-radiotherapy were also discussed here. Furthermore, we outlined the emerging biomarkers for the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockades and radiation therapy and discussed their predictive value in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Meng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianfang Xu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Ye
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shilan Luo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaomei Gong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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12
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Noh JM, Kim YJ, Lee HY, Choi C, Ahn WG, Lee T, Pyo H, Park JH, Park D, Park WY. Targeted Liquid Biopsy Using Irradiation to Facilitate the Release of Cell-Free DNA from a Spatially Aimed Tumor Tissue. Cancer Res Treat 2021; 54:40-53. [PMID: 34044476 PMCID: PMC8756125 DOI: 10.4143/crt.2021.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose We investigated the feasibility of using an anatomically localized, target-enriched liquid biopsy (TLB) in mouse models of lung cancer. Materials and Methods After irradiating xenograft mouse with human lung cancer cell lines, H1299 (NRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase [NRAS] Q61K) and HCC827 (epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] E746–750del), circulating (cell-free) tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels were monitored with quantitative polymerase chain reaction on human long interspersed nuclear element-1 and cell line-specific mutations. We checked dose-dependency at 6, 12, or 18 Gy to each tumor-bearing mouse leg using 6-MV photon beams. We also analyzed ctDNA of lung cancer patients by LiquidSCAN, a targeted deep sequencing to validated the clinical performances of TLB method. Results Irradiation could enhance the detection sensitivity of NRAS Q61K in the plasma sample of H1299-xenograft mouse to 4.5-fold. While cell-free DNA (cfDNA) level was not changed at 6 Gy, ctDNA level was increased upon irradiation. Using double-xenograft mouse with H1299 and HCC827, ctDNA polymerase chain reaction analysis with local irradiation in each region could specify mutation type matched to transplanted cell types, proposing an anatomically localized, TLB. Furthermore, when we performed targeted deep sequencing of cfDNA to monitor ctDNA level in 11 patients with lung cancer who underwent radiotherapy, the average ctDNA level was increased within a week after the start of radiotherapy. Conclusion TLB using irradiation could temporarily amplify ctDNA release in xenograft mouse and lung cancer patients, which enables us to develop theragnostic method for cancer patients with accurate ctDNA detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Myoung Noh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yeon Jeong Kim
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ho Yun Lee
- Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Changhoon Choi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Won-Gyun Ahn
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Taeseob Lee
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.,GENINUS Inc, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hongryull Pyo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jee Hyun Park
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Donghyun Park
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.,GENINUS Inc, Seoul, Korea
| | - Woong-Yang Park
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
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13
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Ococks E, Frankell AM, Masque Soler N, Grehan N, Northrop A, Coles H, Redmond AM, Devonshire G, Weaver JMJ, Hughes C, Lehovsky K, Blasko A, Nutzinger B, Fitzgerald RC, Smyth E. Longitudinal tracking of 97 esophageal adenocarcinomas using liquid biopsy sampling. Ann Oncol 2021; 32:522-532. [PMID: 33359547 DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2020.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is rapidly rising and has a 5-year survival rate of <20%. Beyond TNM (tumor-node-metastasis) staging, no reliable risk stratification tools exist and no large-scale studies have profiled circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) at relapse in EAC. Here we analyze the prognostic potential of ctDNA dynamics in EAC, taking into account clonal hematopoiesis with indeterminate potential (CHIP). PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 245 samples from 97 patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery were identified from the prospective national UK Oesophageal Cancer Clinical and Molecular Stratification (OCCAMS) consortium data set. A pan-cancer ctDNA panel comprising 77 genes was used. Plasma and peripheral blood cell samples were sequenced to a mean depth of 7082× (range 2196-28 524) and ctDNA results correlated with survival. RESULTS Characteristics of the 97 patients identified were as follows: 83/97 (86%) male, median age 68 years (SD 9.5 years), 100% cT3/T4, 75% cN+. EAC-specific drivers had higher variant allele fractions than passenger mutations. Using stringent quality criteria 16/79 (20%) were ctDNA positive following resection; recurrence was observed in 12/16 (75%) of these. As much as 78/97 (80%) had CHIP analyses that enabled filtering for CHIP variants, which were found in 18/78 (23%) of cases. When CHIP was excluded, 10/63 (16%) patients were ctDNA positive and 9/10 of these (90%) recurred. With correction for CHIP, median cancer-specific survival for ctDNA-positive patients was 10.0 months versus 29.9 months for ctDNA-negative patients (hazard ratio 5.55, 95% confidence interval 2.42-12.71; P = 0.0003). Similar outcomes were observed for disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate in a large, national, prospectively collected data set that ctDNA in plasma following surgery for EAC is prognostic for relapse. Inclusion of peripheral blood cell samples can reduce or eliminate false positives from CHIP. In future, post-operative ctDNA could be used to risk stratify patients into high- and low-risk groups for intensification or de-escalation of adjuvant chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ococks
- MRC Cancer Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - A M Frankell
- MRC Cancer Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - N Masque Soler
- MRC Cancer Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - N Grehan
- MRC Cancer Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - A Northrop
- MRC Cancer Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - H Coles
- MRC Cancer Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - A M Redmond
- MRC Cancer Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - G Devonshire
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - J M J Weaver
- MRC Cancer Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - C Hughes
- MRC Cancer Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - K Lehovsky
- MRC Cancer Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - A Blasko
- MRC Cancer Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - B Nutzinger
- MRC Cancer Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - R C Fitzgerald
- MRC Cancer Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - E Smyth
- Department of Oncology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
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