Sequencing paired tumor DNA and white blood cells improves circulating tumor DNA tracking and detects pathogenic germline variants in localized colon cancer.

Background: In the setting of localized colon cancer (CC), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring in plasma has shown potential for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) and predicting a higher risk of recurrence. With the tumor-only sequencing approach, however, germline variants may be misidentified as somatic variations, precluding the possibility of tracking in up to 11% of patients due to a lack of known somatic mutations. In this study, we assess the potential value of adding white blood cells (WBCs) to tumor tissue sequencing to enhance the accuracy of sequencing results.

Strategies for improving detection of circulating tumor DNA using next generation sequencing.

Cancer has become a global health issue and liquid biopsy has emerged as a non-invasive tool for various applications. In cancer, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can be detected from cell-free DNA (cfDNA) obtained from plasma and has potential for early diagnosis, treatment, resistance, minimal residual disease detection, and tumoral heterogeneity identification. However, the low frequency of ctDNA requires techniques for accurate analysis.

Molecular profiling of advanced solid tumours. The impact of experimental molecular-matched therapies on cancer patient outcomes in early-phase trials: the MAST study.

Introduction: Molecular-matched therapies have revolutionized cancer treatment. We evaluated the improvement in clinical outcomes of applying an in-house customized Next Generation Sequencing panel in a single institution.

Methods: Patients with advanced solid tumors were molecularly selected to receive a molecular-matched treatment into early phase clinical trials versus best investigators choice, according to the evaluation of a multidisciplinary molecular tumor board.

Targeted next-generation sequencing of circulating-tumor DNA for tracking minimal residual disease in localized colon cancer.

Background: A high percentage of patients diagnosed with localized colon cancer (CC) will relapse after curative treatment. Although pathological staging currently guides our treatment decisions, there are no biomarkers determining minimal residual disease (MRD) and patients are at risk of being undertreated or even overtreated with chemotherapy in this setting. Circulating-tumor DNA (ctDNA) can to be a useful tool to better detect risk of relapse.