A New Horizon of Liquid Biopsy in Thymic Epithelial Tumors: The Potential Utility of Circulating Cell-Free DNA.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare thoracic malignancies, commonly divided into two different histopathological entities, thymoma (T) and thymic carcinoma (TC). To date, there are no specific biomarkers for monitoring the biological course of these rare tumors. We carried out a single center study aiming at the detection of circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) and the correlation of its levels with metastatic dissemination and histological subtype in patients with TETs.

Methods

From July 2018 to January 2020, 5-ml blood samples from 26 patients with advanced TET (aTET) (11 patients with TC and 15 patients with T) and from six patients with completely resected TET (cr-TET), were prospectively obtained before the initiation of systemic therapy. Blood samples fro

SUBMITTER: Ottaviano M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7902074 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature