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Gelineau NU, van Barneveld A, Samim A, Van Zogchel L, Lak N, Tas ML, Matser Y, Mavinkurve-Groothuis AMC, van Grotel M, Zsiros J, van Eijkelenburg NKA, Knops RRG, van Ewijk R, Langenberg KPS, Krijger RD, Hiemcke-Jiwa LS, Van Paemel R, Cornelli L, De Preter K, De Wilde B, Van Der Schoot E, Tytgat G. Case series on clinical applications of liquid biopsy in pediatric solid tumors: towards improved diagnostics and disease monitoring. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1209150. [PMID: 37664065 PMCID: PMC10473251 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1209150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aims Solid tumors account for about 30% of all pediatric cancers. The diagnosis is typically based on histological and molecular analysis of a primary tumor biopsy. Liquid biopsies carry several advantages over conventional tissue biopsy. However, their use for genomic analysis and response monitoring of pediatric solid tumors is still in experimental stages and mostly performed retrospectively without direct impact on patient management. In this case series we discuss six clinical cases of children with a solid tumor for whom a liquid biopsy assay was performed and demonstrate the potential of liquid biopsy for future clinical decision making. Methods We performed quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) or reduced representation bisulphite sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfRRBS) on liquid biopsies collected from six pediatric patients with a solid tumor treated between 2017 and 2023 at the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in the Netherlands. Results were used to aid in clinical decision making by contribution to establish a diagnosis, by prognostication and response to therapy monitoring. Results In three patients cfRRBS helped to establish the diagnosis of a rhabdomyosarcoma, an Ewing sarcoma and a neuroblastoma (case 1-3). In two patients, liquid biopsies were used for prognostication, by MYCN ddPCR in a patient with neuroblastoma and by RT-qPCR testing rhabdomyosarcoma-specific mRNA in bone marrow of a patient with a rhabdomyosarcoma (case 4 and 5). In case 6, mRNA testing demonstrated disease progression and assisted clinical decision making. Conclusion This case series illustrates the value of liquid biopsy. We further demonstrate and recommend the use of liquid biopsies to be used in conjunction with conventional methods for the determination of metastatic status, prognostication and monitoring of treatment response in patients with pediatric solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina U. Gelineau
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Atia Samim
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Lieke Van Zogchel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Nathalie Lak
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Michelle L. Tas
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Yvette Matser
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Martine van Grotel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jószef Zsiros
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Rutger R. G. Knops
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Roelof van Ewijk
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Ronald De Krijger
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Laura S. Hiemcke-Jiwa
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ruben Van Paemel
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Research Institute, Ghent University, Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium
| | - Lotte Cornelli
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Gent, Belgium
| | - Katleen De Preter
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Research Institute, Ghent University, Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Gent, Belgium
| | - Bram De Wilde
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Research Institute, Ghent University, Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium
| | - Ellen Van Der Schoot
- Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Godelieve Tytgat
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Van Goethem A, Deleu J, Yigit N, Everaert C, Moreno-Smith M, Vasudevan S, Zeka F, Demuynck F, Barbieri E, Speleman F, Mestdagh P, Shohet J, Vandesompele J, Van Maerken T. Longitudinal evaluation of serum microRNAs as biomarkers for neuroblastoma burden and therapeutic p53 reactivation. NAR Cancer 2023; 5:zcad002. [PMID: 36683916 PMCID: PMC9846426 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcad002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate assessment of treatment response and residual disease is indispensable for the evaluation of cancer treatment efficacy. However, performing tissue biopsies for longitudinal follow-up poses a major challenge in the management of solid tumours like neuroblastoma. In the present study, we evaluated whether circulating miRNAs are suitable to monitor neuroblastoma tumour burden and whether treatment-induced changes of miRNA abundance in the tumour are detectable in serum. We performed small RNA sequencing on longitudinally collected serum samples from mice carrying orthotopic neuroblastoma xenografts that were exposed to treatment with idasanutlin or temsirolimus. We identified 57 serum miRNAs to be differentially expressed upon xenograft tumour manifestation, out of which 21 were also found specifically expressed in the serum of human high-risk neuroblastoma patients. The murine serum levels of these 57 miRNAs correlated with tumour tissue expression and tumour volume, suggesting potential utility for monitoring tumour burden. In addition, we describe serum miRNAs that dynamically respond to p53 activation following treatment of engrafted mice with idasanutlin. We identified idasanutlin-induced serum miRNA expression changes upon one day and 11 days of treatment. By limiting to miRNAs with a tumour-related induction, we put forward hsa-miR-34a-5p as a potential pharmacodynamic biomarker of p53 activation in serum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Van Goethem
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jill Deleu
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nurten Yigit
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Celine Everaert
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Myrthala Moreno-Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sanjeev A Vasudevan
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Fjoralba Zeka
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Fleur Demuynck
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eveline Barbieri
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Frank Speleman
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- PPOL, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pieter Mestdagh
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jason Shohet
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Jo Vandesompele
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Van Maerken
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, AZ Groeninge, Kortrijk, Belgium
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3
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Lak NS, van Zogchel LM, Zappeij-Kannegieter L, Javadi A, van Paemel R, Vandeputte C, De Preter K, De Wilde B, Chicard M, Iddir Y, Schleiermacher G, Ruhen O, Shipley J, Fiocco M, Merks JH, van Noesel MM, van der Schoot CE, Tytgat GA, Stutterheim J. Cell-Free DNA as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma. JCO Precis Oncol 2023; 7:e2200113. [PMID: 36652664 PMCID: PMC9928631 DOI: 10.1200/po.22.00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Total cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and tumor-derived cfDNA (ctDNA) can be used to study tumor-derived genetic aberrations. We analyzed the diagnostic and prognostic potential of cfDNA and ctDNA, obtained from pediatric patients with rhabdomyosarcoma. METHODS cfDNA was isolated from diagnostic plasma samples from 57 patients enrolled in the EpSSG RMS2005 study. To study the diagnostic potential, shallow whole genome sequencing (shWGS) and cell-free reduced representation bisulphite sequencing (cfRRBS) were performed in a subset of samples and all samples were tested using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction to detect methylated RASSF1A (RASSF1A-M). Correlation with outcome was studied by combining cfDNA RASSF1A-M detection with analysis of our rhabdomyosarcoma-specific RNA panel in paired cellular blood and bone marrow fractions and survival analysis in 56 patients. RESULTS At diagnosis, ctDNA was detected in 16 of 30 and 24 of 26 patients using shallow whole genome sequencing and cfRRBS, respectively. Furthermore, 21 of 25 samples were correctly classified as embryonal by cfRRBS. RASSF1A-M was detected in 21 of 57 patients. The presence of RASSF1A-M was significantly correlated with poor outcome (the 5-year event-free survival [EFS] rate was 46.2% for 21 RASSF1A-M‒positive patients, compared with 84.9% for 36 RASSF1A-M‒negative patients [P < .001]). RASSF1A-M positivity had the highest prognostic effect among patients with metastatic disease. Patients both negative for RASSF1A-M and the rhabdomyosarcoma-specific RNA panel (28 of 56 patients) had excellent outcome (5-year EFS 92.9%), while double-positive patients (11/56) had poor outcome (5-year EFS 13.6%, P < .001). CONCLUSION Analyzing ctDNA at diagnosis using various techniques is feasible in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma and has potential for clinical use. Measuring RASSF1A-M in plasma at initial diagnosis correlated significantly with outcome, particularly when combined with paired analysis of blood and bone marrow using a rhabdomyosarcoma-specific RNA panel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie S.M. Lak
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands,Sanquin Research Department, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lieke M.J. van Zogchel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands,Sanquin Research Department, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Ahmad Javadi
- Sanquin Research Department, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ruben van Paemel
- Translational Oncogenomics and Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Biomolecular Medicine & Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Vandeputte
- Translational Oncogenomics and Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Biomolecular Medicine & Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katleen De Preter
- Translational Oncogenomics and Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Biomolecular Medicine & Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bram De Wilde
- Translational Oncogenomics and Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Biomolecular Medicine & Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mathieu Chicard
- Equipe SiRIC RTOP Recherche Translationelle en Oncologie Pédiatrique, and INSERM U830, Laboratoire de Génétique et Biologie des Cancers, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Yasmine Iddir
- Equipe SiRIC RTOP Recherche Translationelle en Oncologie Pédiatrique, and INSERM U830, Laboratoire de Génétique et Biologie des Cancers, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Gudrun Schleiermacher
- SIREDO: Care, Innovation and Research for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Olivia Ruhen
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Janet Shipley
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marta Fiocco
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands,Mathematical Institute, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands,Department of Biomedical Data Science, Medical Statistics Section, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Max M. van Noesel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands,UMC Utrecht, Division Oncology & Cancer, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Godelieve A.M. Tytgat
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands,Sanquin Research Department, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Janine Stutterheim
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands,Sanquin Research Department, Amsterdam, the Netherlands,Janine Stutterheim, Princess Máxima Center, Heidelberglaan 25, 3435 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands; e-mail:
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Stagno MJ, Schmidt A, Bochem J, Urla C, Handgretinger R, Cabanillas Stanchi KM, Saup R, Queudeville M, Fuchs J, Warmann SW, Schmid E. Epitope detection in monocytes (EDIM) for liquid biopsy including identification of GD2 in childhood neuroblastoma-a pilot study. Br J Cancer 2022; 127:1324-1331. [PMID: 35864157 PMCID: PMC9519569 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-01855-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common paediatric extracranial solid malignancy. We analysed the role of the epitope detection in monocytes (EDIM) technique for liquid biopsy in NB patients. Methods Tumour epitopes transketolase-like 1 (TKTL1), Apo10 (DNaseX) and GD2 were assessed: expression levels in seven NB tumour samples and five NB cell lines were analysed using RT-PCR and flow cytometry. LAN-1 cells were co-cultured with blood and assessed using EDIM. Peripheral blood macrophages of patients with neuroblastoma (n = 38) and healthy individuals (control group, n = 37) were labelled (CD14+/CD16+) and assessed for TKTL1, Apo10 and GD2 using the EDIM technology. Results mRNA expression of TKTL1 and DNaseX/Apo10 was elevated in 6/7 NB samples. Spike experiments showed upregulation of TKTL1, Apo10 and GD2 in LAN-1 cells following co-culturing with blood. TKTL1 and Apo10 were present in macrophages of 36/38 patients, and GD2 in 15/19 patients. The 37 control samples were all negative. EDIM expression scores of the three epitopes allowed differentiation between NB patients and healthy individuals. Conclusions The EDIM test might serve as a non-invasive tool for liquid biopsy in children suffering from NB. Future studies are necessary for assessing risk stratification, tumour biology, treatment monitoring, and early detection of tumour relapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matias J Stagno
- Department of Pediatric Surgery & Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Schmidt
- Department of Pediatric Surgery & Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jonas Bochem
- Department of Pediatric Surgery & Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Cristian Urla
- Department of Pediatric Surgery & Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Rupert Handgretinger
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Karin M Cabanillas Stanchi
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Rafael Saup
- Department of Pediatric Surgery & Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Manon Queudeville
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Fuchs
- Department of Pediatric Surgery & Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Steven W Warmann
- Department of Pediatric Surgery & Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Evi Schmid
- Department of Pediatric Surgery & Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
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5
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Lak NSM, van der Kooi EJ, Enciso-Martinez A, Lozano-Andrés E, Otto C, Wauben MHM, Tytgat GAM. Extracellular Vesicles: A New Source of Biomarkers in Pediatric Solid Tumors? A Systematic Review. Front Oncol 2022; 12:887210. [PMID: 35686092 PMCID: PMC9173703 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.887210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Virtually every cell in the body releases extracellular vesicles (EVs), the contents of which can provide a "fingerprint" of their cellular origin. EVs are present in all bodily fluids and can be obtained using minimally invasive techniques. Thus, EVs can provide a promising source of diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers, particularly in the context of cancer. Despite advances using EVs as biomarkers in adult cancers, little is known regarding their use in pediatric cancers. In this review, we provide an overview of published clinical and in vitro studies in order to assess the potential of using EV-derived biomarkers in pediatric solid tumors. We performed a systematic literature search, which yielded studies regarding desmoplastic small round cell tumor, hepatoblastoma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. We then determined the extent to which the in vivo findings are supported by in vitro data, and vice versa. We also critically evaluated the clinical studies using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) system, and we evaluated the purification and characterization of EVs in both the in vivo and in vitro studies in accordance with MISEV guidelines, yielding EV-TRACK and PedEV scores. We found that several studies identified similar miRNAs in overlapping and distinct tumor entities, indicating the potential for EV-derived biomarkers. However, most studies regarding EV-based biomarkers in pediatric solid tumors lack a standardized system of reporting their EV purification and characterization methods, as well as validation in an independent cohort, which are needed in order to bring EV-based biomarkers to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie S M Lak
- Research Department, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Elvera J van der Kooi
- Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Estefanía Lozano-Andrés
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Cees Otto
- Medical Cell Biophysics Group, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Marca H M Wauben
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Godelieve A M Tytgat
- Research Department, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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6
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Doculara L, Trahair TN, Bayat N, Lock RB. Circulating Tumor DNA in Pediatric Cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:885597. [PMID: 35647029 PMCID: PMC9133724 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.885597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The measurement of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has gained increasing prominence as a minimally invasive tool for the detection of cancer-specific markers in plasma. In adult cancers, ctDNA detection has shown value for disease-monitoring applications including tumor mutation profiling, risk stratification, relapse prediction, and treatment response evaluation. To date, there are ctDNA tests used as companion diagnostics for adult cancers and it is not understood why the same cannot be said about childhood cancer, despite the marked differences between adult and pediatric oncology. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of ctDNA as a disease monitoring biomarker in the context of pediatric malignancies, including the challenges associated with ctDNA detection in liquid biopsies. The data and conclusions from pediatric cancer studies of ctDNA are summarized, highlighting treatment response, disease monitoring and the detection of subclonal disease as applications of ctDNA. While the data from retrospective studies highlight the potential of ctDNA, large clinical trials are required for ctDNA analysis for routine clinical use in pediatric cancers. We outline the requirements for the standardization of ctDNA detection in pediatric cancers, including sample handling and reproducibility of results. With better understanding of the advantages and limitations of ctDNA and improved detection methods, ctDNA analysis may become the standard of care for patient monitoring in childhood cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Doculara
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- University of New South Wales Centre for Childhood Cancer Research, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Toby N. Trahair
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Narges Bayat
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- University of New South Wales Centre for Childhood Cancer Research, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard B. Lock
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- University of New South Wales Centre for Childhood Cancer Research, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Richard B. Lock,
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Circulating Cell-Free DNA Assessment in Biofluids from Children with Neuroblastoma Demonstrates Feasibility and Potential for Minimally Invasive Molecular Diagnostics. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092080. [PMID: 35565208 PMCID: PMC9099910 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092080] [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: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The invasive nature of surgical biopsies prevents their sequential application to monitor disease. Single biopsies fail to reflect cancer dynamics, intratumor heterogeneity, and drug sensitivities that change over time. Detection and characterization of cell-free circulating tumor DNA in biofluids from patients with solid tumors may better support disease monitoring and provide advanced molecular information for clinical decision-making toward personalized medicine. Here, we investigated the cell-free DNA characteristics in blood, bone marrow, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine provided from 84 infants and children with low-, intermediate-, or high-risk neuroblastoma. We report characteristic size distribution and concentration patterns for each biofluid to provide information to support the development of successful liquid biopsy biobanking strategies. We investigate potential correlations between disease activity and cfDNA concentration and provide strong evidence that markers specific for neuroblastoma can be detected in very small blood volumes from infants. Abstract Liquid biopsy strategies in pediatric patients are challenging due to low body weight. This study investigated cfDNA size distribution and concentration in blood, bone marrow, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine from 84 patients with neuroblastoma classified as low (n = 28), intermediate (n = 6), or high risk (n = 50) to provide key data for liquid biopsy biobanking strategies. The average volume of blood and bone marrow plasma provided ranged between 1 and 2 mL. Analysis of 637 DNA electropherograms obtained by Agilent TapeStation measurement revealed five different major profiles and characteristic DNA size distribution patterns for each of the biofluids. The proportion of samples containing primarily cfDNA was, at 85.5%, the highest for blood plasma. The median cfDNA concentration amounted to 6.28 ng/mL (blood plasma), 58.2 ng/mL (bone marrow plasma), 0.08 ng/mL (cerebrospinal fluid), and 0.49 ng/mL (urine) in samples. Meta-analysis of the dataset demonstrated that multiple cfDNA-based assays employing the same biofluid sample optimally require sampling volumes of 1 mL for blood and bone marrow plasma, 2 mL for cerebrospinal fluid, and as large as possible for urine samples. A favorable response to treatment was associated with a rapid decrease in blood-based cfDNA concentration in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. Blood-based cfDNA concentration was not sufficient as a single parameter to indicate high-risk disease recurrence. We provide proof of concept that monitoring neuroblastoma-specific markers in very small blood volumes from infants is feasible.
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刘 思, 文 飞. Recent clinical research on the application of liquid biopsy in neuroblastoma. ZHONGGUO DANG DAI ER KE ZA ZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PEDIATRICS 2022; 24:339-344. [PMID: 35351268 PMCID: PMC8974650 DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2112120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children and has the features of high recurrence rate and low survival rate, and therefore, early diagnosis, treatment response evaluation, and recurrence monitoring are of great significance for NB patients. Liquid biopsy refers to the detection of cells and nucleic acids in fluid specimens, mainly blood. It is noninvasive and can overcome tumor heterogeneity, thus making it possible to achieve the early diagnosis and dynamic detection of NB. This review introduces the latest advances in clinical research on the application of liquid biopsy in NB.
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van Zogchel LMJ, Lak NSM, Verhagen OJHM, Tissoudali A, Gussmalla Nuru M, Gelineau NU, Zappeij-Kannengieter L, Javadi A, Zijtregtop EAM, Merks JHM, van den Heuvel-Eibrink M, Schouten-van Meeteren AYN, Stutterheim J, van der Schoot CE, Tytgat GAM. Novel Circulating Hypermethylated RASSF1A ddPCR for Liquid Biopsies in Patients With Pediatric Solid Tumors. JCO Precis Oncol 2021; 5:PO.21.00130. [PMID: 34820594 PMCID: PMC8608265 DOI: 10.1200/po.21.00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid biopsies can be used to investigate tumor-derived DNA, circulating in the cell-free DNA (cfDNA) pool in blood. We aimed to develop a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assay detecting hypermethylation of tumor suppressor gene RASSF1A as a simple standard test to detect various pediatric tumor types in small volume blood samples and to evaluate this test for monitoring treatment response of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. The circulating tumor marker hypermethylated RASSF1A can be detected in the plasma of pediatric patients with solid tumors![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieke M J van Zogchel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nathalie S M Lak
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Onno J H M Verhagen
- Department of Immunocytology, Sanquin Diagnostic Services, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ahmed Tissoudali
- Department of Immunohematology Diagnostics, Sanquin Diagnostic Services, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mohammed Gussmalla Nuru
- Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nina U Gelineau
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lily Zappeij-Kannengieter
- Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Immunocytology, Sanquin Diagnostic Services, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ahmad Javadi
- Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eline A M Zijtregtop
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | - C Ellen van der Schoot
- Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Whole-genome sequencing facilitates patient-specific quantitative PCR-based minimal residual disease monitoring in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, neuroblastoma and Ewing sarcoma. Br J Cancer 2021; 126:482-491. [PMID: 34471258 PMCID: PMC8810788 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01538-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Minimal residual disease (MRD) measurement is a cornerstone of contemporary acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) treatment. The presence of immunoglobulin (Ig) and T cell receptor (TCR) gene recombinations in leukaemic clones allows widespread use of patient-specific, DNA-based MRD assays. In contrast, paediatric solid tumour MRD remains experimental and has focussed on generic assays targeting tumour-specific messenger RNA, methylated DNA or microRNA. Methods We examined the feasibility of using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data to design tumour-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based MRD tests (WGS-MRD) in 18 children with high-risk relapsed cancer, including ALL, high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) and Ewing sarcoma (EWS) (n = 6 each). Results Sensitive WGS-MRD assays were generated for each patient and allowed quantitation of 1 tumour cell per 10−4 (0.01%)–10–5 (0.001%) mononuclear cells. In ALL, WGS-MRD and Ig/TCR-MRD were highly concordant. WGS-MRD assays also showed good concordance between quantitative PCR and droplet digital PCR formats. In serial clinical samples, WGS-MRD correlated with disease course. In solid tumours, WGS-MRD assays were more sensitive than RNA-MRD assays. Conclusions WGS facilitated the development of patient-specific MRD tests in ALL, HR-NB and EWS with potential clinical utility in monitoring treatment response. WGS data could be used to design patient-specific MRD assays in a broad range of tumours.
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Molecular Genetics in Neuroblastoma Prognosis. CHILDREN-BASEL 2021; 8:children8060456. [PMID: 34072462 PMCID: PMC8226597 DOI: 10.3390/children8060456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, much research has been carried out to identify the biological and genetic characteristics of the neuroblastoma (NB) tumor in order to precisely define the prognostic subgroups for improving treatment stratification. This review will describe the major genetic features and the recent scientific advances, focusing on their impact on diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic solutions in NB clinical management.
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