Data from Tumor-Naïve Multimodal Profiling of Circulating Tumor DNA in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Year: 2023
Type: other
Abstract: Purpose: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) enables personalized treatment strategies in oncology by providing a noninvasive source of clinical biomarkers. In patients with low ctDNA abundance, tumor-naïve methods are needed to facilitate clinical implementation. Here, using locoregionally confined head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) as an example, we demonstrate tumor-naïve detection of ctDNA by simultaneous profiling of mutations and methylation. Experimental Design: We conducted CAncer Personalized Profiling by deep Sequencing (CAPP-seq) and cell-free Methylated DNA ImmunoPrecipitation and high-throughput sequencing (cfMeDIP-seq) for detection of ctDNA-derived somatic mutations and aberrant methylation, respectively. We analyzed 77 plasma samples from 30 patients with stage I–IVA human papillomavirus–negative HNSCC as well as plasma samples from 20 risk-matched healthy controls. In addition, we analyzed leukocytes from patients and controls. Results: CAPP-seq identified mutations in 20 of 30 patients at frequencies similar to that of The Tumor Genome Atlas (TCGA). Differential methylation analysis of cfMeDIP-seq profiles identified 941 ctDNA-derived hypermethylated regions enriched for CpG islands and HNSCC-specific methylation patterns. Both methods demonstrated an association between ctDNA abundance and shorter fragment lengths. In addition, mutation- and methylation-based ctDNA abundance was highly correlated (r > 0.85). Patients with detectable pretreatment ctDNA by both methods demonstrated significantly worse overall survival (HR = 7.5; P = 0.025) independent of clinical stage, with lack of ctDNA clearance post-treatment strongly correlating with recurrence. We further leveraged cfMeDIP-seq profiles to validate a prognostic signature identified from TCGA samples. Conclusions: Tumor-naïve detection of ctDNA by multimodal profiling may facilitate biomarker discovery and clinical use in low ctDNA abundance applications.
Authors: Justin M. Burgener, Jinfeng Zou, Zhen Zhao, Yangqiao Zheng, Shu Yi Shen, Shao Hui Huang, Sareh Keshavarzi, Wei Xu, Fei-Fei Liu, Geoffrey Liu, John N. Waldron, Ilan Weinreb, Anna Spreafico, Lillian L. Siu, John R. de Almeida, David P. Goldstein, Michael M. Hoffman, Daniel D. De Carvalho, Scott V. Bratman
Language: English
Subfield: Cancer Research
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4361815139