Droplet digital PCR for detection and quantification of circulating tumor DNA in plasma of head and neck cancer patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

During posttreatment surveillance of head and neck cancer patients, imaging is insufficiently accurate for the early detection of relapsing disease. Free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may serve as a novel biomarker for monitoring tumor burden during posttreatment surveillance of these patients. In this exploratory study, we investigated whether low level ctDNA in plasma of head and neck cancer patients can be detected using Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR).

Methods

TP53 mutations were determined in surgically resected primary tumor samples from six patients with high stage (II-IV), moderate to poorly differentiated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Subsequently, mutation specific ddPCR assays were designed. Pretreatment plasma samples from these patients w

SUBMITTER: van Ginkel JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5477260 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature