Effects of Collection and Processing Procedures on Plasma Circulating Cell-Free DNA from Cancer Patients.

ABSTRACT: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) offers new opportunities for noninvasive cancer management. Detecting ctDNA in plasma is challenging because it constitutes only a minor fraction of the total cell-free DNA (cfDNA). Pre-analytical factors affect cfDNA levels contributed from leukocyte lysis, hence the ability to detect low-frequency mutant alleles. This study investigates the effects of the delay in processing, storage temperatures, different blood collection tubes, centrifugation protocols, and sample shipment on cfDNA levels. Peripheral blood (n = 231) from cancer patients (n = 62) were collected into K₃EDTA or Cell-free DNA BCT tubes and analyzed by digital PCR, targeted amplicon, or shallow whole-genome sequencing. To assess pre-analytic effects, plasma was processed under diffe

SUBMITTER: Risberg B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6197164 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature