Research Papers:
Clinical relevance of cell-free DNA in gastrointestinal tract malignancy
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Abstract
Yuan-Tzu Lan1,2, Ming-Huang Chen3,6, Wen-Liang Fang2,4, Chih-Cheng Hsieh5,6, Chien-Hsing Lin7, Fang-Yu Jhang4, Shung-Haur Yang1,2, Jen-Kou Lin1,2, Wei-Shone Chen1,2, Jeng-Kai Jiang1,2, Pei-Ching Lin6,8, Shih-Ching Chang1,2
1Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
2Department of Surgery, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
3Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
4Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
5Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
6School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
7Genome Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan
8Department of Clinical Pathology, Yang-Ming Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Correspondence to:
Pei-Ching Lin, email: [email protected]
Shih-Ching Chang, email: [email protected]
Keywords: cfDNA, GI tract cancer, biomarker, carcinoembryonic antigen, response
Received: September 08, 2016 Accepted: November 30, 2016 Published: December 07, 2016
ABSTRACT
Background: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) extracted from blood has become a clinically feasible biomarker in various types of cancer. However, the clinical significance of cfDNA in gastrointestinal (GI) tract cancer among Asian populations requires further investigation.
Results: The median cfDNA copy number was highest in esophageal cancer, followed by colorectal cancer and gastric cancer, which were all significantly higher than those of healthy individuals. The cfDNA levels were higher in GI tract cancer, followed by those in carcinoma in situ and then healthy individuals (P = 0.019). During the postoperative surveillance, the cfDNA level tended to be more sensitive than the carcinoembryonic antigen level in predicting recurrence. For recurrent gastric cancer, a persistently high cfDNA level and an increasing trend was observed after surgery. For stage IV colorectal cancer, dynamic changes in the cfDNA level were correlated with the responses to chemotherapy and surgery.
Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 95 healthy individuals and from 855 patients diagnosed with GI tract malignancy, including 98 with esophageal cancer, 428 with stomach cancer, 329 with colorectal cancer and 30 with carcinoma in situ. The copy numbers of extracted cfDNA were analyzed and compared among the different types of GI cancers.
Conclusions: The cfDNA level can serve as a feasible biomarker for detecting tumors in GI tract cancer. The cfDNA level may play a role in predicting tumor responses to chemotherapy and surgery in colorectal cancer; tumor recurrence should be considered in gastric cancer with a persistently high cfDNA level after surgery.
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