Abstract 4689
Background
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a promising biomarker for early prediction of relapse across different tumor types. In patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), multiple studies have analyzed ctDNA to monitor tumor burden using fixed gene panels and droplet digital PCR. Here, we use a highly sensitive and specific, bespoke, whole exome-based NGS approach (Signatera™) for ctDNA monitoring.
Methods
A cohort of 33 patients with stage III CRC who underwent surgery and were treated with at least 4 months of adjuvant chemotherapy was analyzed. Mutational profiles derived from primary tumor tissue and germline DNA whole exome were used to design assays targeting tumor-specific somatic variants. The bespoke assays were used for ctDNA detection in plasma samples. Relapse-free survival (RFS) was calculated for patients stratified by ctDNA status.
Results
Plasma samples (n = 44; average volume=1.8mL) from patients (N = 33) were analysed for the presence of ctDNA. Of the five ctDNA-positive patients, clinical follow-up was available for three patients, all of whom relapsed (100%; 3/3); three of 27 ctDNA-negative patients (11%) also clinically relapsed. Molecular relapse through ctDNA analysis was detected up to 668 days ahead of radiological imaging with an average lead time of 305 days. The majority of relapses in ctDNA-positive patients (67%; 2/3) occurred within a year of follow-up, while no relapses were observed in ctDNA-negative patients during the one-year time frame. All plasma samples (n = 34) from 24 non-relapsing patients were ctDNA negative, corresponding to a specificity of 100%. The presence of ctDNA was associated with a markedly reduced RFS compared to ctDNA-negative patients (HR: 5.6; 95% CI: 0.6-52.1; p < 0.01).
Conclusions
The study results indicate that ctDNA status is associated with high relapse risk in patients with CRC and can serve as a predictor of patient outcome. Despite low plasma volumes (<5mL) and lack of longitudinal samples for analysis, ctDNA was detected in 50% of relapse cases.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Natera, Inc. and NSABP Foundation.
Funding
Natera, Inc., Bayer, NSABP Foundation.
Disclosure
H. Sethi: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment, I am an employee of Natera and own stock/options to stock.: Natera, Inc. T.J. George: Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck; Research grant / Funding (institution): AstraZeneca; Research grant / Funding (institution): BMS; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bayer; Research grant / Funding (institution): Lilly; Research grant / Funding (institution): Incyte; Research grant / Funding (institution): Seattle Genetics; Research grant / Funding (institution): Pharmacyclics. S. Shchegrova: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment, I am an employee of Natera and own stock/options to stock.: Natera, Inc. A.S. Tin: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment, I am an employee of Natera and own stock/options to stock.: Natera, Inc. A. Olson: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment, I am an employee of Natera and own stock/options to stock.: Natera, Inc. D. Renner: Full / Part-time employment: Natera, Inc. E. Kalashnikova: Full / Part-time employment: Natera, Inc. M. Louie: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment, I am an employee of Natera and own stock/options to stock.: Natera, Inc. R. Salari: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment, I am an employee of Natera and own stock/options to stock.: Natera, Inc. B. Zimmermann: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment, I am an employee of Natera and own stock/options to stock.: Natera, Inc. A. Aleshin: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment, I am an employee of Natera and own stock/options to stock.: Natera, Inc. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
3664 - Longitudinal changes in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation levels identify early non-responders to treatment in advanced solid tumors
Presenter: Andrew Davis
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3212 - Multigene panel testing results for hereditary breast cancer in 1325 individuals: implications for gene selection and considerations for guidelines.
Presenter: Georgios Tsaousis
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2591 - PIK3R5 genetic predictors of hypertension induced by VEGF-pathway inhibitors
Presenter: Julia Quintanilha
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4377 - ERBB2 mRNA as a predictor in HER2-positive (HER2+)/hormone receptor-positive (HR+) metastatic breast cancer (BC) treated with HER2 blockade in combination with endocrine therapy (ET): a retrospective analysis of the ALTERNATIVE and SOLTI-PAMELA trials.
Presenter: Nuria Chic
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3439 - Early on-treatment vs pre-treatment tumor transcriptomes as predictors of response to neoadjuvant therapy for HER2-positive inflammatory breast cancer
Presenter: Sonia Pernas
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2512 - AXL expression predicts poor prognosis and lack of efficacy of anti-angiogenic and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) agents in patients (pts) with RAS wild type (WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)
Presenter: Claudia Cardone
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4061 - Prevalence of EGFR mutations and its correlation with Egyptian patients’ human kinetics (PEEK Study)
Presenter: Adel Ibrahim
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2547 - Evaluation of tumor microenvironment identifies immune correlates of response to combination immunotherapy with margetuximab (M) and pembrolizumab (P) in HER2+ gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA)
Presenter: Sergio Rutella
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4671 - Clinicopathological and molecular criteria assessment for the screening of hypermutated proficient mismatch repair (pMMR) colorectal cancers (CRC) with exonucleasic domain POLE (edPOLE) mutations (mt).
Presenter: Benoit Rousseau
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3862 - Tumor mutation burden and microsatellite instability in colorectal cancer
Presenter: Francesca Fenizia
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract