Integrated analysis of cell-free DNA for the early detection of cancer in high-risk patients
Description: Early detection of cancer is currently still the best indicator of survival and cure despite major advances in treatments. Approximately 1 in 3 people, in Canada, will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life. These odds are significantly increased in patients with hereditary cancer syndrome (HCS). HCS is often inherited and can affect several generations, including young children. HCS patients have a genetic predisposition that can accelerate the onset of cancer by >30 years and amplifies the risk of developing multiple cancers within a lifetime. Therefore, early detection is vital for the health of HCS patients. While each HCS is associated with certain cancers such as hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, current screening methods are organ specific (mammography) or highly invasive (colonoscopy). This lack of a comprehensive screening method results in HCS patients routinely undergoing several procedures that are time intensive and mentally burdensome, especially for younger patients. Analysis of blood DNA has shown promise in sporadic cancers but has never been tested in HCS. This project is focussed on developing a blood test that can detect early cancer, before it appears clinically, in HCS patients without cancer but are at a high life-time risk of cancers. We aim to achieve this by analyzing fragments and patterns of DNA shed by microscopic tumours into the blood. This test will be minimally invasive, comprehensive, and sensitive. Clinical implementation of our method will also reduce the cost and burden of healthcare for HCS patients by reducing the need or frequency of current screening methods. By improving the management and care of HCS patients and providing evidence for clinical implementation, this project will further provide a foundation for the use of blood DNA to screen for and detect early cancers in the general population.
Amount: CA$54,000
Funding type: fellowship
Funder scheme: CIHR Fellowship
Start date: 2022-06-01
End date: 2023-07-06
Investigator: Derek Wong
Institution: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (Toronto)
Subfield: Cancer Research
Domain: Life Sciences
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 181768_1
OpenAlex ID: G3529047159