Clinical potential of circulating free DNA and circulating tumour cells in patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer treated with pembrolizumab.

ABSTRACT: Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab, are revolutionizing therapeutic strategies for different cancer types, including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, only a subset of patients benefits from this therapy, and new biomarkers are needed to select better candidates. In this study, we explored the value of liquid biopsy analyses, including circulating free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumour cells (CTCs), as a prognostic or predictive tool to guide pembrolizumab therapy. For this purpose, a total of 109 blood samples were collected from 50 patients with advanced NSCLC prior to treatment onset and at 6 and 12 weeks after the initiation of pembrolizumab. Plasma cfDNA was measured using hTERT quantitative PCR assay. The CTC levels at baseline were also analysed using tw

SUBMITTER: Mondelo-Macia P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8564635 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature