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Liquid Biopsies in Cancer Diagnosis, Monitoring and Prognosis

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2021) | Viewed by 28521

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Guest Editor
Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV—IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy
Interests: translational research; lung cancer and ovarian cancer; notch signaling in cancer; tumor angiogenesis and metabolism; mechanisms of resistance to antiangiogenic therapy; prognostic/predictive biomarker identification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Liquid biopsy has emerged as new tool for detecting clinically relevant genetic alterations in cancer patients. The term liquid biopsy is commonly used not only to refer to molecular assays performed on cell-free DNA purified from plasma but can also include testing on other body fluids, such as urine and cerebrospinal fluid and measurements of circulating tumor cells, exosomes and circulating tumor RNA.

Here, we would like to focus on liquid biopsy approaches to track response to therapy in solid tumors. This special issue will cover studies investigating the significance of liquid biopsy for diagnostic/prognostic purposes as well as to predict patient outcome, compared with patient management guided via canonical molecular data and imaging modalities.

In this Special Issue, we welcome Original Research and Review articles focused on, but not limited to, dynamic measurements of mutations and other genetic alterations in plasma or other fluids. Studies on other liquid biopsy biomarkers such as microRNA and proteins are also considered.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Biomedicines.

Dr. Stefano Indraccolo
Dr. Paola Ulivi
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review, Other

14 pages, 24365 KiB  
Article
MSI Analysis in Solid and Liquid Biopsies of Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma Patients: A Molecular Approach
by Elisa Boldrin, Maria Assunta Piano, Rita Alfieri, Marcodomenico Mazza, Loretta Vassallo, Antonio Scapinello, Pierluigi Pilati and Matteo Curtarello
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(14), 7244; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22147244 - 6 Jul 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3768
Abstract
Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) patients with the microsatellite instability (MSI) subtype emerged as optimal candidates for immunotherapy. To date, immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the gold standard for MSI assessment in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens. However, IHC, although useful for diagnostic typing, cannot be used to [...] Read more.
Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) patients with the microsatellite instability (MSI) subtype emerged as optimal candidates for immunotherapy. To date, immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the gold standard for MSI assessment in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens. However, IHC, although useful for diagnostic typing, cannot be used to analyze cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in liquid biopsy, a tool that could overcome tumor heterogeneity and enable longitudinal monitoring. In order to find an alternative diagnostic method to IHC, we analyzed 86 retrospective GEAs FFPE samples with multiplex PCR. Moreover, to verify the feasibility of MSI detection in liquid biopsy, cfDNA samples of five patients that resulted in having MSI in a prospective cohort of 35 patients were evaluated by multiplex PCR, real-time PCR and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Analysis of FFPE showed 100% concordance between multiplex PCR and IHC (Cohen’s Kappa agreement = 1). On the contrary, only ddPCR was able to detect MSI in cfDNAs of T3/T4 GEA patients. In conclusion, data highlight the molecular analysis as an optimal alternative to IHC for the diagnostic typing and suggest that the ddPCR assay can be considered as the most reliable and promising molecular approach to detect MSI in the cfDNA of GEA patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Liquid Biopsies in Cancer Diagnosis, Monitoring and Prognosis)
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<p>Representative IHC staining for MMR proteins and electropherograms of multiplex PCR analysis using the MSI Analysis System Version 1.2 kit. (<b>a</b>) MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PSM2 expression in FFPE samples of a MSS and a MSI patient by IHC (original magnification 20×). The MSS patient shows normal expression of all MMR proteins. Deficiency in MLH1 and PSM2 proteins is observed in the MSI patient; (<b>b</b>) Multiplex PCR electropherograms show profiles of 5 quasimonomorphic microsatellites (NR-21, BAT-26, BAT-25, NR-24 and MONO-27) in the normal and tumor tissue of the same patient. The tumor tissue shows additional peaks that are absent in the normal tissue of all microsatellites analyzed, revealing an MSI profile.</p>
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<p>Electropherograms and gel-like image of cfDNA samples analyzed with Agilent TapeStation 2200. The fragments around 35 bps, between 150 and 200 bps and &gt;1000 bps represent the lower marker, the cfDNA and the germline DNA, respectively. Profile of a cfDNA (<b>a</b>) without germline DNA contamination, (<b>b</b>) with minimal and (<b>c</b>) with high contamination; (<b>d</b>) electrophoretic runs of the cfDNA samples of panels (<b>a</b>–<b>c</b>). The percentage of cfDNA is reported below each lane.</p>
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<p>Two-dimensional plot of droplet fluorescence for the three ddPCR MSI assays (BAT-25 and BAT-26; NR-21 and NR-24 and MONO-27) performed in the cfDNA of patients GP06 and GP26. Wild-type molecules are in the orange clusters, and the microsatellite unstable molecules are in the blue clusters. The individual target is labeled on each plot. Circles identify loci with at least three positive droplets (unstable loci).</p>
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<p>MSI status in cfDNA samples of GP06, GP24 and GP26 prospective patients. Black and white rectangles indicate MSI or MSS status, respectively. Unstable microsatellites are shown in red and the number of positive droplets is indicated in brackets.</p>
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17 pages, 969 KiB  
Article
The Physiological MicroRNA Landscape in Nipple Aspirate Fluid: Differences and Similarities with Breast Tissue, Breast Milk, Plasma and Serum
by Susana I. S. Patuleia, Carla H. van Gils, Angie M. Oneto Cao, Marije F. Bakker, Paul J. van Diest, Elsken van der Wall and Cathy B. Moelans
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(22), 8466; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21228466 - 11 Nov 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2524
Abstract
Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) target 60% of human messenger RNAs and can be detected in tissues and biofluids without loss of stability during sample processing, making them highly appraised upcoming biomarkers for evaluation of disease. However, reporting of the abundantly expressed miRNAs in healthy [...] Read more.
Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) target 60% of human messenger RNAs and can be detected in tissues and biofluids without loss of stability during sample processing, making them highly appraised upcoming biomarkers for evaluation of disease. However, reporting of the abundantly expressed miRNAs in healthy samples is often surpassed. Here, we characterized for the first time the physiological miRNA landscape in a biofluid of the healthy breast: nipple aspirate fluid (NAF), and compared NAF miRNA expression patterns with publically available miRNA expression profiles of healthy breast tissue, breast milk, plasma and serum. Methods: MiRNA RT-qPCR profiling of NAF (n = 41) and serum (n = 23) samples from two healthy female cohorts was performed using the TaqMan OpenArray Human Advanced MicroRNA 754-Panel. MiRNA quantification data based on non-targeted or multi-targeted profiling techniques for breast tissue, breast milk, plasma and serum were retrieved from the literature by means of a systematic search. MiRNAs from each individual study were orderly ranked between 1 and 50, combined into an overall ranking per sample type and compared. Results: NAF expressed 11 unique miRNAs and shared 21/50 miRNAs with breast tissue. Seven miRNAs were shared between the five sample types. Overlap between sample types varied between 42% and 62%. Highly ranked NAF miRNAs have established roles in breast carcinogenesis. Conclusion: This is the first study to characterize and compare the unique physiological NAF-derived miRNA landscape with the physiological expression pattern in breast tissue, breast milk, plasma and serum. Breast-specific sources did not mutually overlap more than with systemic sources. Given their established role in carcinogenesis, NAF miRNA assessment could be a valuable tool in breast tumor diagnostics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Liquid Biopsies in Cancer Diagnosis, Monitoring and Prognosis)
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Graphical abstract

Graphical abstract
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<p>Flowchart of the study selection strategy used for miRNA ranking in four biosamples: breast tissue, breast milk, plasma and serum. Adapted from Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines [<a href="#B39-ijms-21-08466" class="html-bibr">39</a>]. Detailed flowcharts are shown in <a href="#app1-ijms-21-08466" class="html-app">Supplementary Methods</a>. The total number of women included in the selected studies per sample type was added underneath. a. One article provided data for the breast milk miRNA ranking and for the plasma miRNA ranking.</p>
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<p>Overlapping miRNAs between sample types. (<b>a</b>,<b>b</b>): percentage of overlapping miRNAs between the top 50 of breast tissue (reference, <b>a</b>) and nipple aspirate fluid (NAF; reference, <b>b</b>) and the top 50 of the other four sample types. (<b>c</b>,<b>d</b>): number of overlapping miRNAs between the top 50 of breast tissue and the top 50 of two systemic biofluids (plasma and serum, <b>c</b>) and two breast-derived biofluids (NAF and breast milk, <b>d</b>). (<b>e</b>): number of overlapping miRNAs between de top 50 of NAF and the top 50 of two systemic biofluids: plasma and serum. The list of shared miRNAs is shown in <a href="#app1-ijms-21-08466" class="html-app">Supplementary Table S4 and Supplementary Figure S2</a>. A 5-way Venn diagram is shown in <a href="#app1-ijms-21-08466" class="html-app">Supplementary Figure S4</a>.</p>
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18 pages, 6596 KiB  
Article
SMAD3 Hypomethylation as a Biomarker for Early Prediction of Colorectal Cancer
by Muhamad Ansar, Chun-Jung Wang, Yu-Han Wang, Tsung-Hua Shen, Chin-Sheng Hung, Shih-Ching Chang and Ruo-Kai Lin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(19), 7395; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21197395 - 7 Oct 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4554
Abstract
The incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) have been high in recent years. Prevention and early detection are crucial for decreasing the death rate. Therefore, this study aims to characterize the alteration patterns of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (SMAD3 [...] Read more.
The incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) have been high in recent years. Prevention and early detection are crucial for decreasing the death rate. Therefore, this study aims to characterize the alteration patterns of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (SMAD3) in patients with CRC and its applications in early detection by using a genome-wide methylation array to identify an aberrant hypomethylation site in the intron position of the SMAD3 gene. Quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction showed that hypomethylated SMAD3 occurred in 91.4% (501/548) of Taiwanese CRC tissues and 66.6% of benign tubular adenoma polyps. In addition, SMAD3 hypomethylation was observed in 94.7% of patients with CRC from The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset. A decrease in circulating cell-free methylation SMAD3 was detected in 70% of CRC patients but in only 20% of healthy individuals. SMAD3 mRNA expression was low in 42.9% of Taiwanese CRC tumor tissues but high in 29.4% of tumors compared with paired adjacent normal tissues. Hypomethylated SMAD3 was found in cancers of the digestive system, such as liver cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer, but not in breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and lung cancer. In conclusion, SMAD3 hypomethylation is a potential diagnostic marker for CRC in Western and Asian populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Liquid Biopsies in Cancer Diagnosis, Monitoring and Prognosis)
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Graphical abstract

Graphical abstract
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<p>Criteria and step-by-step flowchart of gene selection.</p>
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<p>Methylation levels in Taiwanese patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC). (<b>A</b>) Differentially methylated CpG heatmap of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (<span class="html-italic">SMAD3</span>) in 26 paired CRC patients. Methylation levels (average β values) at differentially methylated loci were identified using an Illumina Human Methylation 450K array-based assay. The five CpG sites in promoter regions −1133, −525, −413, −122, and −94 are designated 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. The CpG sites in gene body regions +12535, +927, +11421, +1331, and +2511 are designated 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, respectively. (<b>B</b>) Figures of the methylated <span class="html-italic">SMAD3</span> levels determined by quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (QMSP) in 548 adjacent normal colon tissues, nine polyps of tubular adenoma, and 548 CRC tumors. Experiments were performed with three technical replicates. Results are shown in mean ± standard deviation. *** <span class="html-italic">p</span> ≤ 0.001. A <span class="html-italic">t</span>-test and nonparametric analysis was used to calculate group differences in all experiments.</p>
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<p><span class="html-italic">SMAD3</span> DNA methylation analysis from The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset. Differentially methylated CpG sites in <span class="html-italic">SMAD3</span> were identified in (<b>A</b>) 38 adjacent normal colorectal tissues, 38 matched colorectal carcinoma (CRC) tumors, and (<b>B</b>) 314 CRC tumors by using an Illumina Human Methylation 450K array-based assay. The five CpG sites in promoter regions −1133, −525, −413, −122, and −94 are designated 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. The CpG sites in gene body regions +12535, +927, +11421, +1331, and +2511 are designated 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, respectively.</p>
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<p>Circulating cell-free DNA methylation levels in Taiwanese patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). (<b>A</b>) The box plot of <span class="html-italic">SMAD3</span> methylation levels in 200 μL plasma. (<b>B</b>) Circulating methylated <span class="html-italic">SMAD3</span> levels determined by using quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in 15 healthy subjects and 15 patients with CRC in 200 μL plasma extracted through a manual process. (<b>C</b>) The box plot of <span class="html-italic">SMAD3</span> methylation levels in 1 mL plasma. (<b>D</b>) Circulating methylated <span class="html-italic">SMAD3</span> levels in 14 healthy subjects and 14 CRC patients in 1 mL plasma. Experiments were performed with three technical replicates. * <span class="html-italic">p</span> ≤ 0.05. A <span class="html-italic">t</span> test was used to calculate group differences.</p>
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<p>The mRNA expression in Taiwanese colorectal cancer (CRC) paired tissues, polyps, and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. (<b>A</b>) Boxplot of the <span class="html-italic">SMAD3</span> mRNA expression level determined by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction in 119 paired colon tissues and nine polyps from the Taiwanese population. (<b>B</b>) RNA sequencing data of <span class="html-italic">SMAD3</span> in 41 matched CRC tumors from the TCGA dataset. Results are shown as mean ± standard deviation.</p>
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<p>Pearson correlation analysis of tissues between DNA methylation and RNA sequencing in 19 paired adjacent normal tissue samples and 19 paired CRC tissue samples from patients.</p>
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<p><span class="html-italic">SMAD3</span> DNA methylation in different cancers. Differentially methylated CpG heatmap of <span class="html-italic">SMAD3</span> in paired liver cancer, rectal cancer, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, and uterine cancer. Methylation levels (average β values) at differentially methylated loci were identified by using an Illumina Human Methylation 450K array-based assay.</p>
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<p>Kaplan–Meier survival curves were constructed to compare the overall survival between CRC patients with hypomethylation and nonhypomethylation of <span class="html-italic">SMAD3</span> in patients with age &gt;65, stage III‒IV, and male gender. <span class="html-italic">SMAD3</span> was defined as hypomethylation when the methylation level in CRC tumors was half that in adjacent normal colorectal tissue.</p>
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<p>Flowchart of the study design, datasets and specimens used. For each step, the sample types and number of samples used for the analyses are indicated. CRC, colorectal cancer; AD, benign adenoma; BC, breast cancer; LC, lung cancer; ESCC, esophageal cancer; ES, endometrial cancer; ccfDNA, circulating cell-free DNA; QMSP, quantitative methylation-specific PCR; qRT-PCR, quantitative reverse-transcription PCR; methylation 450K array, Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array.</p>
Full article ">

Review

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22 pages, 3038 KiB  
Review
Liquid Biopsies in the Clinical Management of Germ Cell Tumor Patients: State-of-the-Art and Future Directions
by João Lobo, Ricardo Leão, Carmen Jerónimo and Rui Henrique
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(5), 2654; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22052654 - 6 Mar 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3200
Abstract
Liquid biopsies constitute a minimally invasive means of managing cancer patients, entailing early diagnosis, follow-up and prediction of response to therapy. Their use in the germ cell tumor field is invaluable since diagnostic tissue biopsies (which are invasive) are often not performed, and [...] Read more.
Liquid biopsies constitute a minimally invasive means of managing cancer patients, entailing early diagnosis, follow-up and prediction of response to therapy. Their use in the germ cell tumor field is invaluable since diagnostic tissue biopsies (which are invasive) are often not performed, and therefore only a presumptive diagnosis can be made, confirmed upon examination of the surgical specimen. Herein, we provide an overall review of the current liquid biopsy-based biomarkers of this disease, including the classical, routinely used serum tumor markers—the promising microRNAs rapidly approaching the introduction into clinical practice—but also cell-free DNA markers (including DNA methylation) and circulating tumor cells. Finally, and importantly, we also explore novel strategies and challenges for liquid biopsy markers and methodologies, providing a critical view of the future directions for liquid biopsy tests in this field, highlighting gaps and unanswered questions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Liquid Biopsies in Cancer Diagnosis, Monitoring and Prognosis)
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Figure 1
<p>Clinical path of a patient with a testicular mass. Clinical work-up includes physical examination, scrotal ultrasound and classical serum tumor markers (AFP, HCG, and LDH) evaluation. The patient is ultimately submitted to removal of the testis (orchiectomy) and the definitive diagnosis (which can be a germ cell tumor, another tumor or even a benign inflammatory condition) is only provided by histopathological examination of the specimen.</p>
Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Possible future directions in liquid biopsy testing in TGCTs, including standardization of protocols and reports, studies in exosomes, biomolecule delivery through nanoparticles, and improved techniques such as droplet digital PCR.</p>
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23 pages, 795 KiB  
Review
Current Status of Circulating Tumor Cells, Circulating Tumor DNA, and Exosomes in Breast Cancer Liquid Biopsies
by Marta Tellez-Gabriel, Erik Knutsen and Maria Perander
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(24), 9457; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21249457 - 11 Dec 2020
Cited by 72 | Viewed by 7465
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Although the five-, ten- and fifteen-year survival rates are good for breast cancer patients diagnosed with early-stage disease, some cancers recur many years after completion of primary therapy. Tumor heterogeneity and clonal evolution [...] Read more.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Although the five-, ten- and fifteen-year survival rates are good for breast cancer patients diagnosed with early-stage disease, some cancers recur many years after completion of primary therapy. Tumor heterogeneity and clonal evolution may lead to distant metastasis and therapy resistance, which are the main causes of breast cancer-associated deaths. In the clinic today, imaging techniques like mammography and tissue biopsies are used to diagnose breast cancer. Even though these methods are important in primary diagnosis, they have limitations when it comes to longitudinal monitoring of residual disease after treatment, disease progression, therapy responses, and disease recurrence. Over the last few years, there has been an increasing interest in the diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive potential of circulating cancer-derived material acquired through liquid biopsies in breast cancer. Thanks to the development of sensitive devices and platforms, a variety of tumor-derived material, including circulating cancer cells (CTCs), circulating DNA (ctDNA), and biomolecules encapsulated in extracellular vesicles, can now be extracted and analyzed from body fluids. Here we will review the most recent studies on breast cancer, demonstrating the clinical potential and utility of CTCs and ctDNA. We will also review literature illustrating the potential of circulating exosomal RNA and proteins as future biomarkers in breast cancer. Finally, we will discuss some of the advantages and limitations of liquid biopsies and the future perspectives of this field in breast cancer management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Liquid Biopsies in Cancer Diagnosis, Monitoring and Prognosis)
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<p>Liquid biopsies in breast cancer and their utilities. EV = extracellular vesicles, ctDNA = circulating tumor DNA, CTCs = circulating tumor cells.</p>
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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

17 pages, 1991 KiB  
Case Report
Comparative Molecular Analysis of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphomas and Matched Vitreoretinal Lymphomas by Vitreous Liquid Biopsy
by Daniel A. Balikov, Kevin Hu, Chia-Jen Liu, Bryan L. Betz, Arul M. Chinnaiyan, Laxmi V. Devisetty, Sriram Venneti, Scott A. Tomlins, Andi K. Cani and Rajesh C. Rao
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(18), 9992; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22189992 - 16 Sep 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3164
Abstract
Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL) is a lymphoid malignancy of the brain that occurs in ~1500 patients per year in the US. PCNSL can spread to the vitreous and retina, where it is known as vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL). While confirmatory testing for [...] Read more.
Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL) is a lymphoid malignancy of the brain that occurs in ~1500 patients per year in the US. PCNSL can spread to the vitreous and retina, where it is known as vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL). While confirmatory testing for diagnosis is dependent on invasive brain tissue or cerebrospinal fluid sampling, the ability to access the vitreous as a proximal biofluid for liquid biopsy to diagnose PCNSL is an attractive prospect given ease of access and minimization of risks and complications from other biopsy strategies. However, the extent to which VRL, previously considered genetically identical to PCNSL, resembles PCNSL in the same individual with respect to genetic alterations, diagnostic strategies, and precision-medicine based approaches has hitherto not been explored. Furthermore, the degree of intra-patient tumor genomic heterogeneity between the brain and vitreous sites has not been studied. In this work, we report on targeted DNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) of matched brain and vitreous samples in two patients who each harbored VRL and PCSNL. Our strategy showed enhanced sensitivity for molecular diagnosis confirmation over current clinically used vitreous liquid biopsy methods. We observed a clonal relationship between the eye and brain samples in both patients, which carried clonal CDKN2A deep deletions, a highly recurrent alteration in VRL patients, as well as MYD88 p.L265P activating mutation in one patient. Several subclonal alterations, however, in the genes SETD2, BRCA2, TERT, and broad chromosomal regions showed heterogeneity between the brain and the eyes, between the two eyes, and among different regions of the PCNSL brain lesion. Taken together, our data show that NGS of vitreous liquid biopsies in PCNSL patients with VRL highlights shared and distinct genetic alterations that suggest a common origin for these lymphomas, but with additional site-specific alterations. Liquid biopsy of VRL accurately replicates the findings for PCNSL truncal (tumor-initiating) genomic alterations; it can also nominate precision medicine interventions and shows intra-patient heterogeneity in subclonal alterations. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first interrogation of genetic underpinnings of PCNSL with matched VRL samples. Our findings support continued investigation into the utility of vitreous liquid biopsy in precision diagnosis and treatment of PCNSL/VRL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Liquid Biopsies in Cancer Diagnosis, Monitoring and Prognosis)
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<p>Clonality testing in brain and vitreous liquid biopsy lymphoma samples. DNA obtained from brain PCNSL FFPE tissue and vitreous fluid underwent clonal <span class="html-italic">IGH</span> rearrangement PCR testing covering ~90% of the most common rearrangements. Assays were run in duplicate with negative controls (one replicate shown per sample). Assay includes three rearrangement frameworks, 1 (blue), 2 (green), and 3 (red), the colors indicating different fluorophores used to detect the PCR amplicon. Samples containing clonal populations can show rearrangement product (peaks) in one or more frameworks. Clonal rearrangements were defined as peaks identical between replicates that were at least 2× higher than the third highest peak. Capillary electropherogram plots of band intensity over fragment length show a positive PCR result for <span class="html-italic">IGH</span> gene rearrangement in Case 1 (<b>A</b>) but not Case 2 (<b>B</b>).</p>
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<p>Genomic analysis of matched brain tissue and vitreous liquid biopsy samples for Cases 1 and 2. Integrative heatmaps showing genomic alterations detected in Case 1 (<b>A</b>) and Case 2 (<b>B</b>). NGS using the OCPv1 panel was performed on each DNA sample. Gene copy number losses (navy blue for deep and light blue for shallow deletions) and gains (red), as well as gene mutations (green) and short insertions/deletions (indels, brown) with the respective amino acid changes are shown. Numbers inside mutation or indel boxes represent the variant fraction, i.e., fraction of mutated sequencing reads with respect to total reads covering that base. Variant fractions deviate from 0.5 and 1.0 due to normal DNA mixed with the tumor DNA sample. Unfilled boxes represent wild-type status for that position.</p>
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<p>Copy number plots of matched brain tissue and vitreous liquid biopsy samples for Case 1. Copy number plots for each sample are shown as log2 copy number ratio (amplicon-level ratio between read counts in the tumor sample and read counts in a composite of normal samples, normalized for sequencing depth and GC content). Dots represent individual amplicon log 2 copy number ratios. Dots of the same color represent a gene, and black horizontal bars represent average gene-level log2 copy number ratio estimates (coverage-weighted). Genes are listed at the bottom in chromosome order, and chromosomes are separated by gray lines and marked at the top. Genes marked with * have two groups of amplicons with different colors covering them. Altered/relevant genes are highlighted with thick, black gene-level log2 copy number ratio lines. Altered, broad genomic regions are marked with black ovals.</p>
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<p>Copy number plots of matched brain tissue and vitreous liquid biopsy samples for Case 2. Copy number plots for each sample are shown as log2 copy number ratio (amplicon-level ratio between read counts in the tumor sample and read counts in a composite of normal samples, normalized for sequencing depth and GC content). Dots represent individual amplicon log 2 copy number ratios. Dots of the same color represent a gene, and black horizontal bars represent average gene-level log2 copy number ratio estimates (coverage-weighted). Genes are listed at the bottom in chromosome order and chromosomes are separated by gray lines and marked at the top. Genes marked with * have two groups of amplicons with different colors covering them. Altered/relevant genes are highlighted with thick, black lines for gene-level log2 copy number ratios.</p>
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8 pages, 1241 KiB  
Case Report
Molecular Characterization of a Rare Case of Bilateral Vitreoretinal T Cell Lymphoma through Vitreous Liquid Biopsy
by Andi K. Cani, Marcus A. Toral, Daniel A. Balikov, Bryan L. Betz, Kevin Hu, Chia-Jen Liu, Matthew V. Prifti, Arul M. Chinnaiyan, Scott A. Tomlins, Vinit B. Mahajan and Rajesh C. Rao
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(11), 6099; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22116099 - 5 Jun 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2705
Abstract
Vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) is an uncommon eye malignancy, and VRLs of T cell origin are rare. They are difficult to treat, and their molecular underpinnings, including actionable genomic alterations, remain to be elucidated. At present, vitreous fluid liquid biopsies represent a valuable VRL [...] Read more.
Vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) is an uncommon eye malignancy, and VRLs of T cell origin are rare. They are difficult to treat, and their molecular underpinnings, including actionable genomic alterations, remain to be elucidated. At present, vitreous fluid liquid biopsies represent a valuable VRL sample for molecular analysis to study VRLs. In this study, we report the molecular diagnostic workup of a rare case of bilateral T cell VRL and characterize its genomic landscape, including identification of potentially targetable alterations. Using next-generation sequencing of vitreous-derived DNA with a pan-cancer 126-gene panel, we found a copy number gain of BRAF and copy number loss of tumor suppressor DNMT3A. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first exploration of the T cell VRL cancer genome and supports vitreous liquid biopsy as a suitable approach for precision oncology treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Liquid Biopsies in Cancer Diagnosis, Monitoring and Prognosis)
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Figure 1

Figure 1
<p>Clinical examination shows vitreous debris in both eyes. (<b>A</b>) Ultra-widefield retinal imaging of the right eye (OD) showed vitreous clumps over the posterior pole. (<b>B</b>) Ultra-widefield retinal imaging of the left eye (OS) showed vitreous cells (black arrowheads); inferior snowballs (white arrowheads); and dense vitreous clumps over the posterior pole. (<b>C</b>,<b>D</b>) Infrared en-face imaging shows level (green-line) at which optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to image cross-section of macula (<b>E</b>,<b>F</b>). Cross-sectional OCT showed (<b>C</b>) mild epiretinal membrane OD and (<b>D</b>) a dense vitreous opacity over the macula OS. Posterior B-Scan ultrasonography revealed vitreous opacities (<b>G</b>) OD and (<b>H</b>) OS. (<b>I</b>) Cytological examination for morphology and cell-surface marker staining for CD20, CD10 and CD3 as well as vitreous DNA amounts are shown for each vitreous sample.</p>
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<p>DNA analysis of vitreous liquid biopsy samples. (<b>A</b>) DNA obtained from vitreous fluid from each eye underwent clonal T cell receptor (TCR) rearrangement PCR testing covering ~90% of the most common rearrangements in the <span class="html-italic">TCRB</span> and <span class="html-italic">TCRG</span> genes. Assays were run in duplicate with negative controls (one replicate shown per sample). Clonal rearrangements were defined as peaks identical between replicates that were at least 2× higher than the third highest peak. Capillary electropherogram plots of band intensity over fragment length show a positive PCR result for <span class="html-italic">TCRG</span> rearrangement at 186 bp, identical in both eyes, at ~10% frequency. No TCRB-positive bands were observed in either sample. (<b>B</b>) NGS using the OCP version 1 panel was performed on each eye sample. Copy number plots are shown as log2 copy number ratio (amplicon level ratio between read counts in the tumor sample and read counts in a composite of normal samples, normalized for sequencing depth and GC content). Dots represent individual amplicons, dots of the same color represent a gene, and black horizontal bars represent average gene-level estimates (coverage-weighted). Altered/relevant genes are highlighted. No mutations were observed in either sample.</p>
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