Extracellular Vesicle DNA Extraction and Sequencing in Ancient Serum Samples From Patients With Breast Cancer.

Background/aim: Extracellular vesicle DNA (EV-DNA) has emerged as a novel biomarker for tumor mutation detection using liquid biopsies, exhibiting biological advantages compared to cell-free DNA (cfDNA). This study assessed the feasibility of EV-DNA and cfDNA extraction and sequencing in old serum samples of patients with breast cancer (BC).

Patients And Methods: A total of 28 serum samples of 27 patients with corresponding clinical information were collected between 1983 and 1991.

Defining Optimal Conditions for Tumor Extracellular Vesicle DNA Extraction for Mutation Profiling.

(1) Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as crucial players in the communication between cells in both physiological and pathological scenarios. The functions of EVs are strongly determined by their molecular content, which includes all bioactive molecules, such as proteins, lipids, RNA, and, as more recently described, double-stranded DNA. It has been shown that in oncological settings DNA associated with EVs (EV-DNA) is representative of the genome of parental cells and that it reflects the mutational status of the tumor, gaining much attention as a promising source of biomarker mutant DNA.

The EPICAL trial, a phase Ib study combining first line afatinib with anti-EGF vaccination in EGFR-mutant metastatic NSCLC.

Introduction: Combination of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies or immune checkpoint inhibitors with TKIs has shown minimal benefit in EGFR mutant (EGFR-mut) NSCLC patients. Consequently, new combination approaches are needed.

Patients And Methods: The EPICAL was a single arm, phase 1b study to evaluate safety, tolerability and anti-tumor activity of first line afatinib combined with anti-EGF vaccination in advanced EGFR-mut patients.

Comprehensive cross-platform comparison of methods for non-invasive EGFR mutation testing: results of the RING observational trial.

Several platforms for noninvasive EGFR testing are currently used in the clinical setting with sensitivities ranging from 30% to 100%. Prospective studies evaluating agreement and sources for discordant results remain lacking. Herein, seven methodologies including two next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based methods, three high-sensitivity PCR-based platforms, and two FDA-approved methods were compared using 72 plasma samples, from EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients progressing on a first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI).