Abstract | BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MATERIAL AND METHODS: In total, 78 blood samples of 20 patients with HNSCC were analysed in this prospective biomarker study. Blood samples were taken before and during treatment. CfDNA levels were quantified fluorometrically and results were compared to laboratory and clinical parameters. RESULTS: Elevated cfDNA levels were associated with the pre-treatment volumes of lymph node metastases (p = 0.0002), gastrostomy tube placement (20.23 ng/ml vs. 9.04 ng/ml (median), p = 0.025), the application of antibiotics (16.47 ng/ml vs. 9.04 ng/ml, p = 0.006) and manifest infections (16.81 ng/ml vs. 9.04 ng/ml, p = 0.010). Furthermore, a significant difference between moderate inflammation (radiation-induced toxicity RTOG grade 2-3) and manifest infections could be observed (8.97 ng/ml vs. 16.81 ng/ml, p = 0.014), allowing for a more pronounced differentiation than by CRP levels (p = 0.119). There might be an association between the application of G-CSF and elevated cfDNA levels. CONCLUSION:
CfDNA levels are correlated with infections during radiochemotherapy and could represent an informative complemental biomarker to drive therapeutic decision-making. Estimated levels of circulating cell-free tumour DNA (ctDNA) in plasma should be interpreted cautiously when monitoring tumour outcome by next-generation-sequencing, as confounders like infections or drug application might influence the fraction of ctDNA in total cfDNA.
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Authors | Kerstin Zwirner, Franz J Hilke, German Demidov, Stephan Ossowski, Cihan Gani, Olaf Rieß, Daniel Zips, Stefan Welz, Christopher Schroeder |
Journal | Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
(Radiother Oncol)
Vol. 129
Issue 3
Pg. 575-581
(12 2018)
ISSN: 1879-0887 [Electronic] Ireland |
PMID | 30097252
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
Chemical References |
- Biomarkers
- Cell-Free Nucleic Acids
- C-Reactive Protein
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Topics |
- Adult
- Biomarkers
- C-Reactive Protein
(analysis)
- Cell-Free Nucleic Acids
(blood)
- Chemoradiotherapy
- Female
- Head and Neck Neoplasms
(therapy)
- Humans
- Infections
(blood, diagnosis)
- Inflammation
(blood, diagnosis)
- Male
- Prospective Studies
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