Cancer biomarkers: Emerging trends and clinical implications for personalized treatment

The integration of cancer biomarkers into oncology has revolutionized cancer treatment, yielding remarkable advancements in cancer therapeutics and the prognosis of cancer patients. The development of personalized medicine represents a turning point and a new paradigm in cancer management, as biomarkers enable oncologists to tailor treatments based on the unique molecular profile of each patient's tumor. In this review, we discuss the scientific milestones of cancer biomarkers and explore future possibilities to improve the management of patients with solid tumors. This progress is primarily attributed to the biological characterization of cancers, advancements in testing methodologies, elucidation of the immune microenvironment, and the ability to profile circulating tumor fractions. Integrating these insights promises to continually advance the precision oncology field, fostering better patient outcomes.

Inferring gene expression from cell-free DNA fragmentation profiles

Profiling of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the bloodstream shows promise for noninvasive cancer detection. Chromatin fragmentation features have previously been explored to infer gene expression profiles from cell-free DNA (cfDNA), but current fragmentomic methods require high concentrations of tumor-derived DNA and provide limited resolution. Here we describe promoter fragmentation entropy as an epigenomic cfDNA feature that predicts RNA expression levels at individual genes. We developed 'epigenetic expression inference from cell-free DNA-sequencing' (EPIC-seq), a method that uses targeted sequencing of promoters of genes of interest. Profiling 329 blood samples from 201 patients with cancer and 87 healthy adults, we demonstrate classification of subtypes of lung carcinoma and diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Applying EPIC-seq to serial blood samples from patients treated with PD-(L)1 immune-checkpoint inhibitors, we show that gene expression profiles inferred by EPIC-seq are correlated with clinical response. Our results indicate that EPIC-seq could enable noninvasive, high-throughput tissue-of-origin characterization with diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic potential.

Enhanced detection of minimal residual disease by targeted sequencing of phased variants in circulating tumor DNA

Circulating tumor-derived DNA (ctDNA) is an emerging biomarker for many cancers, but the limited sensitivity of current detection methods reduces its utility for diagnosing minimal residual disease. Here we describe phased variant enrichment and detection sequencing (PhasED-seq), a method that uses multiple somatic mutations in individual DNA fragments to improve the sensitivity of ctDNA detection. Leveraging whole-genome sequences from 2,538 tumors, we identify phased variants and their associations with mutational signatures. We show that even without molecular barcodes, the limits of detection of PhasED-seq outperform prior methods, including duplex barcoding, allowing ctDNA detection in the ppm range in participant samples. We profiled 678 specimens from 213 participants with B cell lymphomas, including serial cell-free DNA samples before and during therapy for diffuse large B cell lymphoma. In participants with undetectable ctDNA after two cycles of therapy using a next-generation sequencing-based approach termed cancer personalized profiling by deep sequencing, an additional 25% have ctDNA detectable by PhasED-seq and have worse outcomes. Finally, we demonstrate the application of PhasED-seq to solid tumors.

A Comprehensive Circulating Tumor DNA Assay for Detection of Translocation and Copy-Number Changes in Pediatric Sarcomas

Most circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) assays are designed to detect recurrent mutations. Pediatric sarcomas share few recurrent mutations but rather are characterized by translocations and copy-number changes. We applied Cancer Personalized Profiling by deep Sequencing (CAPP-Seq) for detection of translocations found in the most common pediatric sarcomas. We also applied ichorCNA to the combined off-target reads from our hybrid capture to simultaneously detect copy-number alterations (CNA). We analyzed 64 prospectively collected plasma samples from 17 patients with pediatric sarcoma. Translocations were detected in the pretreatment plasma of 13 patients and were confirmed by tumor sequencing in 12 patients. Two of these patients had evidence of complex chromosomal rearrangements in their ctDNA. We also detected copy-number changes in the pretreatment plasma of 7 patients. We found that ctDNA levels correlated with metastatic status and clinical response. Furthermore, we detected rising ctDNA levels before relapse was clinically apparent, demonstrating the high sensitivity of our assay. This assay can be utilized for simultaneous detection of translocations and CNAs in the plasma of patients with pediatric sarcoma. While we describe our experience in pediatric sarcomas, this approach can be applied to other tumors that are driven by structural variants.

Leveraging phased variants for personalized minimal residual disease detection in localized non-small cell lung cancer

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Background: Detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has prognostic value in lung cancer and could facilitate minimal residual disease (MRD) driven approaches. However, the sensitivity of ctDNA detection is suboptimal due to the background error rates of existing assays. We developed a novel method leveraging multiple mutations on a single cell-free DNA molecule (“phased variants” or PVs) resulting in an ultra-low error profile. Here we develop and apply this approach to improve MRD in localized NSCLC. Methods: To identify the prevalence of PVs, we reanalyzed whole genome sequencing (WGS) from 2,538 tumors and 24 cancer types from the pan-cancer analysis of whole genomes (PCAWG). We applied Phased Variant Enrichment and Detection Sequencing (PhasED-Seq) to track personalized PVs in localized NSCLC. We compared PhasED-Seq to a single nucleotide variant (SNV)-based ctDNA method. Results: In the PCAWG dataset, we found that PVs were common in both lung squamous cell carcinomas (LUSC, median 1,268/tumor; rank 2nd) and adenocarcinomas (LUAD, median 655.5/tumor; rank 3rd). However, PVs did not occur in stereotyped genomic regions. Thus, to leverage PhasED-Seq, we performed tumor/normal WGS to identify PVs, followed by design of personalized panels targeting PVs to allow deep cfDNA sequencing. We performed personalized PhasED-Seq for 5 patients with localized NSCLC. PVs were identified from WGS of tumor FFPE and validated by targeted resequencing in all cases (median 248/case). The background rate of PVs was lower than that of SNVs, even when considering duplex molecules (background: SNVs, 3.8e-5; duplex SNVs, 1.0e-5; PVs, 1.2e-6; P < 0.0001). We next assessed PhasED-Seq for MRD detection in 14 patient plasma samples. Both SNVs and PhasED-Seq had high specificity in healthy control cfDNA (95% and 97% respectively). Using SNVs, ctDNA was detected in 5/14 samples; PhasED-Seq detected all of these with nearly identical tumor fractions (Spearman rho = 0.97). However, PhasED-Seq also detected MRD in an additional 5 samples containing tumor fractions as low as 0.000094% (median 0.0004%). We analyzed serial samples from a patient with stage III LUAD treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and durvalumab. SNV-based ctDNA and PhasED-Seq detected similar MRD levels (0.8%) prior to therapy. However, 3 samples collected during CRT, as well as before and during immunotherapy, were undetectable by SNVs. SNV-based ctDNA then re-emerged at disease recurrence. PhasED-Seq detected MRD in all 3 samples not detected by SNVs with tumor fractions as low as 0.00016%, including prior to immunotherapy (8 months prior to progression). Similar improvements were seen in samples not detected by SNVs from 2 additional patients. Conclusions: Personalized ctDNA monitoring via PVs is feasible and improves MRD detection in localized NSCLC. PhasED-Seq allows clinical studies testing personalized treatment based on MRD.

Noninvasive Early Identification of Therapeutic Benefit from Immune Checkpoint Inhibition

Although treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can produce remarkably durable responses, most patients develop early disease progression. Furthermore, initial response assessment by conventional imaging is often unable to identify which patients will achieve durable clinical benefit (DCB). Here, we demonstrate that pre-treatment circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and peripheral CD8 T cell levels are independently associated with DCB. We further show that ctDNA dynamics after a single infusion can aid in identification of patients who will achieve DCB. Integrating these determinants, we developed and validated an entirely noninvasive multiparameter assay (DIREct-On, Durable Immunotherapy Response Estimation by immune profiling and ctDNA-On-treatment) that robustly predicts which patients will achieve DCB with higher accuracy than any individual feature. Taken together, these results demonstrate that integrated ctDNA and circulating immune cell profiling can provide accurate, noninvasive, and early forecasting of ultimate outcomes for NSCLC patients receiving ICIs.

Abstract 5666: A noninvasive approach for early prediction of therapeutic benefit from immune checkpoint inhibition for lung cancer

Although treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) can produce remarkably durable responses, most patients develop early disease progression. Furthermore, initial response assessment by conventional imaging is often unable to identify which patients will achieve durable clinical benefit (DCB). Here, we analyze 211 samples from 99 patients and demonstrate that pre-treatment circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating immune profiles are independently associated with DCB. We further show that ctDNA dynamics after a single ICI infusion can identify the majority of patients who will achieve DCB. Integrating these determinants, we describe an entirely noninvasive multi-analyte assay (DIREct-On, Durable Immunotherapy Response Estimation by immune profiling and ctDNA- On-treatment) that robustly predicted DCB, and that was validated in two independent cohorts (AUC = 0.89-0.93, PPV = 92-100%, HR = 0.04-0.11). Taken together, these results demonstrate that integrated ctDNA and circulating immune cell profiling can provide accurate, noninvasive, and early forecasting of ultimate outcomes for NSCLC patients receiving ICI.

Citation Format: Barzin Y. Nabet, Mohammad S. Esfahani, Emily G. Hamilton, Jacob J. Chabon, Everett J. Moding, Hira Rizvi, Chloe B. Steen, Aadel A. Chaudhuri, Chih Long Liu, Angela B. Hui, Henning Stehr, Linda Goljenola, Michael C. Jin, Young-Jun Jeon, Diane Tseng, Taha Merghoub, Joel W. Neal, Heather A. Wakelee, Sukhmani K. Padda, Kavitha J. Ramchandran, Millie Das, Rene F. Bonilla, Christopher Yoo, Emily L. Chen, Ryan B. Ko, Aaron M. Newman, Matthew D. Hellmann, Ash A. Alizadeh, Maximilian Diehn. A noninvasive approach for early prediction of therapeutic benefit from immune checkpoint inhibition for lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5666.

Differences in cytochrome p450 enzyme expression and activity in fetal and adult tissues

INTRODUCTION

Human cytochrome p450 (CYP) enzyme expression and activity is lower in the fetus as compared to the adult; however, limited quantitative data exists regarding the specific differences in magnitude or the degree of inducibility due to environmental factors.

METHODS

We utilized a combination of in silico- and molecular-based approaches to profile and compare CYP expression/activity in human adult liver and fetal tissues. Using public datasets, we evaluated human CYP expression between: 1) placenta vs. adult livers; 2) fetal vs. adult livers; or 3) five compartments of the human placenta. We generated new experimental data, characterizing expression levels of nine CYPs in placenta/fetal liver vs. adult liver. In a subset of samples, we evaluated CYP3A4 activity. Finally, we summarized evidence of human fetal CYP expression/activity and environmental exposures during pregnancy.

RESULTS

In silico, CYPs were predominately expressed at higher levels in the adult liver vs. fetal tissues, with a few noted exceptions. Sixty percent of CYP enzymes were expressed at nominal levels in the placenta. In wet-lab analyses, we observed significant CYP-specific differences in expression/activity between adult and fetal tissues; CYP2E1 and -3A4 were expressed significantly lower in fetal vs. adult livers, while CYP2J2 levels were similar.

DISCUSSION

We provide a qualitative review of the expression of the CYP enzyme family in critical sites of xenobiotic distribution during human pregnancy and novel quantitative data regarding fetal CYP expression and activity during mid-gestation. Data outputs may be a resource for modeling predictions of chemical distribution and sensitivity.

Integrating genomic features for non-invasive early lung cancer detection

Radiologic screening of high-risk adults reduces lung-cancer-related mortality1,2; however, a small minority of eligible individuals undergo such screening in the United States3,4. The availability of blood-based tests could increase screening uptake. Here we introduce improvements to cancer personalized profiling by deep sequencing (CAPP-Seq)5, a method for the analysis of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), to better facilitate screening applications. We show that, although levels are very low in early-stage lung cancers, ctDNA is present prior to treatment in most patients and its presence is strongly prognostic. We also find that the majority of somatic mutations in the cell-free DNA (cfDNA) of patients with lung cancer and of risk-matched controls reflect clonal haematopoiesis and are non-recurrent. Compared with tumour-derived mutations, clonal haematopoiesis mutations occur on longer cfDNA fragments and lack mutational signatures that are associated with tobacco smoking. Integrating these findings with other molecular features, we develop and prospectively validate a machine-learning method termed 'lung cancer likelihood in plasma' (Lung-CLiP), which can robustly discriminate early-stage lung cancer patients from risk-matched controls. This approach achieves performance similar to that of tumour-informed ctDNA detection and enables tuning of assay specificity in order to facilitate distinct clinical applications. Our findings establish the potential of cfDNA for lung cancer screening and highlight the importance of risk-matching cases and controls in cfDNA-based screening studies.

Circulating Tumor DNA Analysis for Detection of Minimal Residual Disease After Chemoradiotherapy for Localized Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Biomarkers are needed to risk stratify after chemoradiotherapy for localized esophageal cancer. These could improve identification of patients at risk for cancer progression and selection of additional therapy.

METHODS

We performed deep sequencing (CAncer Personalized Profiling by deep Sequencing, [CAPP-Seq]) analyses of plasma cell-free DNA collected from 45 patients before and after chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer, as well as DNA from leukocytes and fixed esophageal tumor biopsy samples collected during esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Patients were treated from May 2010 through October 2015; 23 patients subsequently underwent esophagectomy, and 22 did not undergo surgery. We also sequenced DNA from blood samples from 40 healthy control individuals. We analyzed 802 regions of 607 genes for single-nucleotide variants previously associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Patients underwent imaging analyses 6-8 weeks after chemoradiotherapy and were followed for 5 years. Our primary aim was to determine whether detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) after chemoradiotherapy is associated with risk of tumor progression (growth of local, regional, or distant tumors, detected by imaging or biopsy).

RESULTS

The median proportion of tumor-derived DNA in total cell-free DNA before treatment was 0.07%, indicating that ultrasensitive assays are needed for quantification and analysis of ctDNA from localized esophageal tumors. Detection of ctDNA after chemoradiotherapy was associated with tumor progression (hazard ratio, 18.7; P < .0001), formation of distant metastases (hazard ratio, 32.1; P < .0001), and shorter disease-specific survival times (hazard ratio, 23.1; P < .0001). A higher proportion of patients with tumor progression had new mutations detected in plasma samples collected after chemoradiotherapy than patients without progression (P = .03). Detection of ctDNA after chemoradiotherapy preceded radiographic evidence of tumor progression by an average of 2.8 months. Among patients who received chemoradiotherapy without surgery, combined ctDNA and metabolic imaging analysis predicted progression in 100% of patients with tumor progression, compared with 71% for only ctDNA detection and 57% for only metabolic imaging analysis (P < .001 for comparison of either technique to combined analysis).

CONCLUSIONS

In an analysis of cell-free DNA in blood samples from patients who underwent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer, detection of ctDNA was associated with tumor progression, metastasis, and disease-specific survival. Analysis of ctDNA might be used to identify patients at highest risk for tumor progression.

Genomic Profiling of BDE-47 Effects on Human Placental Cytotrophoblasts

Despite gradual legislative efforts to phase out flame retardants (FRs) from the marketplace, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are still widely detected in human maternal and fetal tissues, eg, placenta, due to their continued global application in consumer goods and inherent biological persistence. Recent studies in rodents and human placental cell lines suggest that PBDEs directly cause placental toxicity. During pregnancy, trophoblasts play key roles in uterine invasion, vascular remodeling, and anchoring of the placenta-fetal unit to the mother. Thus, to study the potential consequences of PBDE exposures on human placental development, we used an in vitro model: primary villous cytotrophoblasts (CTBs). Following exposures, the endpoints that were evaluated included cytotoxicity, function (migration, invasion), the transcriptome, and the methylome. In a concentration-dependent manner, common PBDE congeners, BDE-47 and -99, significantly reduced cell viability and increased death. Upon exposures to sub-cytotoxic concentrations (≤ 5 µM), we observed BDE-47 accumulation in CTBs with limited evidence of metabolism. At a functional level, BDE-47 hindered the ability of CTBs to migrate and invade. Transcriptomic analyses of BDE-47 effects suggested concentration-dependent changes in gene expression, involving stress pathways, eg, inflammation and lipid/cholesterol metabolism as well as processes underlying trophoblast fate, eg, differentiation, migration, and vascular morphogenesis. In parallel assessments, BDE-47 induced low-level global increases in methylation of CpG islands, including a subset that were proximal to genes with roles in cell adhesion/migration. Thus, using a primary human CTB model, we showed that PBDEs induced alterations at cellular and molecular levels, which could adversely impact placental development.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hydroxylated PBDE metabolites (OH-PBDEs) in maternal and fetal tissues, and associations with fetal cytochrome P450 gene expression

BACKGROUND

Human fetal exposures to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their metabolites (OH-PBDEs) are unique from adults, and in combination with a different metabolic profile, may make fetal development more sensitive to adverse health outcomes from these exposures. However, we lack data to characterize human fetal PBDE exposures and the metabolic factors that can influence these exposures.

OBJECTIVE

We examined differences between 2nd trimester maternal and fetal exposures to PBDEs and OH-PBDEs. We also characterized fetal cytochrome P450 (CYP) mRNA expression and its associations with PBDE exposures.

METHODS

We collected paired samples of maternal serum and fetal liver (n=86) with a subset having matched placenta (n=50). We measured PBDEs, OH-PBDEs, and mRNA expression of CYP genes (e.g. CYP1A1, -2E1, -2J2, -2C9) in all samples. As a sensitivity analysis, we measured PBDEs and OH-PBDEs in umbilical cord serum from a subset (n=22).

RESULTS

BDE-47 was detected in ≥96% of all tissues. Unadjusted ∑PBDEs concentrations were highest in fetal liver (geometric mean (GM)=0.72ng/g), whereas lipid-adjusted concentrations were highest in cord serum (111.12ng/g lipid). In both cases, fetal concentrations were approximately two times higher than maternal serum levels (GM=0.33ng/g or 48.75ng/g lipid). ΣOH-PBDEs were highest in maternal and cord sera and 20-200 times lower than PBDE concentrations. In regression models, maternal BDE-47 explained more of the model variance of liver than of placenta BDE-47 concentrations (adjusted R²=0.79 vs 0.48, respectively). In adjusted logistic regression models, ∑PBDEs were positively associated with expression of CYP2E1 and -2J2 (placenta), and -1A1 (liver) (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that under normal conditions of mid-gestation, the human fetus is directly exposed to concentrations of PBDEs that may be higher than previously estimated based on maternal serum and that these exposures are associated with the expression of mRNAs coding for CYP enzymes. These results will help frame and interpret findings from studies that use maternal or cord blood as proxy measures of fetal exposures, and will inform the molecular pathways by which PBDEs affect human health.

An improved ATAC-seq protocol reduces background and enables interrogation of frozen tissues

We present Omni-ATAC, an improved ATAC-seq protocol for chromatin accessibility profiling that works across multiple applications with substantial improvement of signal-to-background ratio and information content. The Omni-ATAC protocol generates chromatin accessibility profiles from archival frozen tissue samples and 50-μm sections, revealing the activities of disease-associated DNA elements in distinct human brain structures. The Omni-ATAC protocol enables the interrogation of personal regulomes in tissue context and translational studies.

Transcriptional Dynamics of Cultured Human Villous Cytotrophoblasts

During human pregnancy, cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) play key roles in uterine invasion, vascular remodeling, and anchoring of the feto-placental unit. Due to the challenges associated with studying human placentation in utero, cultured primary villous CTBs are used as a model of the differentiation pathway that leads to invasion of the uterine wall. In vitro, CTBs emulate in vivo cell behaviors, such as migration, aggregation, and substrate penetration. Although some of the molecular features related to these cell behaviors have been described, the underlying mechanisms, at a global level, remain undefined at midgestation. Thus, in this study, we characterized second-trimester CTB differentiation/invasion in vitro, correlating the major morphological transitions with the transcriptional changes that occurred at these steps. After plating on Matrigel as individual cells, CTBs migrated toward each other and formed multicellular aggregates. In parallel, using a microarray approach, we observed differentially expressed (DE) genes across time, which were enriched for numerous functions, including cell migration, vascular remodeling, morphogenesis, cell communication, and inflammatory signaling. DE genes encoded several molecules that we and others previously linked to critical CTB function in vivo, suggesting that the novel DE molecules we discovered played important roles. Immunolocalization confirmed that CTBs in situ gave a signal for two of the most highly expressed genes in vitro. In summary, we characterized, at a global level, the temporal dynamics of primary human CTB gene expression in culture. These data will enable future analyses of various types of in vitro perturbations-for example, modeling disease processes and environmental exposures.

DNA Methylation and Somatic Mutations Converge on the Cell Cycle and Define Similar Evolutionary Histories in Brain Tumors

The evolutionary history of tumor cell populations can be reconstructed from patterns of genetic alterations. In contrast to stable genetic events, epigenetic states are reversible and sensitive to the microenvironment, prompting the question whether epigenetic information can similarly be used to discover tumor phylogeny. We examined the spatial and temporal dynamics of DNA methylation in a cohort of low-grade gliomas and their patient-matched recurrences. Genes transcriptionally upregulated through promoter hypomethylation during malignant progression to high-grade glioblastoma were enriched in cell cycle function, evolving in parallel with genetic alterations that deregulate the G1/S cell cycle checkpoint. Moreover, phyloepigenetic relationships robustly recapitulated phylogenetic patterns inferred from somatic mutations. These findings highlight widespread co-dependency of genetic and epigenetic events throughout brain tumor evolution.

Problems in recruiting community-based physicians for health services research

OBJECTIVE

To qualitatively determine factors that are associated with higher participation rates in community-based health services research requiring significant physician participation burden.

MEASUREMENTS

A review of the literature was undertaken using MEDLINE and the Social Science Research Index to identify health services research studies that recruited large community-based samples of individual physicians and in which the participation burden exceeded that of merely completing a survey. Two reviewers abstracted data on the recruitment methods, and first authors were contacted to supplement published information.

MAIN RESULTS

Sixteen studies were identified with participation rates from 2.5% to 91%. Almost all studies used physician recruiters to personally contact potential participants. Recruiters often knew some of the physicians to be recruited, and personal contact with these "known" physicians resulted in greater participation rates. Incentives were generally absent or modest, and at modest levels, did not appear to affect participation rates. Investigators were almost always affiliated with academic institutions, but were divided as to whether this helped or hindered recruitment. HMO-based and minority physicians were more difficult to recruit. Potential participants most often cited time pressures on staff and themselves as the study burden that caused them to decline.

CONCLUSIONS

Physician personal contact and friendship networks are powerful tools for recruitment. Participation rates might improve by including HMO and minority physicians in the recruitment process. Investigators should transfer as much of the study burden from participating physicians to project staff as possible.

Policy-relevant program evaluation in a national substance abuse treatment system

This article discusses recent trends in public and private substance abuse services and offers suggestions on how the evaluation of such services can inform clinical practice and policy making. This analysis focuses particularly on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which operates the largest substance abuse treatment system in the United States. In recent years, there has been an erosion of services for substance abuse outside the VA. In contrast, due to increased funding from the U.S. Congress, the VA significantly expanded substance abuse treatment from 1990 to 1994. However, efforts to "reinvent" and downsize government initiated a reversal of this growth trend in 1994, and VA services may shrink further as the system becomes more decentralized and adopts managed care strategies from the private sector. Drawing from the VA Program Evaluation and Resource Center's (PERC) experience of evaluating the VA system and working with federal policy makers, this article presents examples and suggestions for making evaluations of substance abuse treatment systems more useful in policy discussions and in day-to-day clinical practice.

Intrauterine transfusion. Safeguard or peril?

Questions have been raised whether intrauterine transfusion (IUT) results in a better survival rate than premature delivery and intensive newborn care. A 20% mortality for each IUT seems the basis for the query. Our method of IUT is described which resulted in 75% survival in nonhydropic babies overall with a 3.6% mortality for each IUT. In the last 5 years the survivors were 84.6% with a mortality rate of 2.2% for each IUT. The results in hydropic babies are poor. Intrauterine transfusion by our method permits delivery of a more mature baby requiring much shorter hospitalization and reduced costs.

Affinity chromatography of human plasma and platelet factor XIII on organomercurial agarose

A method for affinity chromatography of plasma and platelet factor XIII has been developed, based on known structural characteristics of these molecules. Plasma factor XIII is composed of a and b subunits which are held together by noncovalent interactions; platelet factor XIII has only a subunits. a subunit contains free sulfhydryl groups, while in b subunit all the cystines form disulfide bonds. The affinity gel is an organomercurial agarose with p-chloromercuribenzoate as the reactive group. Both the zymogen and activated forms of a subunit reversibly bind to the ligand by forming covalent mercaptide bonds and are eluted by reducing agents. b subunit does not bind to the affinity gel and is held to it only through interaction with a subunit. Affinity chromatography can be used to purify plasma and platelet factor XIII and to study interactions of the subunits. Experiments on the affinity chromatography of purified plasma factor XIII in several stages of activation agree with earlier observations that activation is a two-step procedure in which b subunit is not quantitatively released from the complex until the final stage of activation by Ca2+.