159P - Quantifying circulating cell-free DNA as clinical biomarker

Abstract

Background: This is the first comprehensive study on the effect of pre-analytical and demographic parameters that could be a source of variability in the quantification of nuclear and mitochondrial circulating DNA (NcirDNA and McirDNA, respectively). Methods: We set an optimal calculation of the simultaneous quantification of circulating nuclear and mitochondrial genome copy number based on a clinically validated q-PCR method. We report data from a total of 217 subjects, 99 healthy individuals and 118 metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. We also investigated the influence of blood storage and collection time on cirDNA concentration from healthy volunteers. Results: Approximately 26,650 and 3,000-fold more mitochondrial than nuclear genome copies were found in healthy subjects and mCRC patients, respectively. Neither NcirDNA nor McirDNA plasma concentrations depended on age in the healthy and mCRC cohorts taken as a whole. Remarkably however NcirDNA levels were significantly higher in healthy men as compared to women (n = 99, P = 0.010). Men and women did not differ in McirDNA levels. NcirDNA levels increased slightly with age in healthy women, suggesting a potential influence of menopause. A highly significant statistical difference was found between mCRC patients and healthy individuals for NcirDNA (P < 0.0001) and McirDNA (P = 0.019). In healthy volunteers, there was a higher level of NcirDNA at 9:00 AM with no food intake. Conclusions: Nuclear and mitochondrial cirDNA levels do not vary in the same way with regards to blood stability, collection time, and pathological status. Our observations, of pre-analytical, analytical and demographical factors, could serve to set standard operating procedures and to transpose cirDNA analysis into clinical practice in oncology. Guidelines on the preanalytical conditions will be also presented from data from this study and a complete review of the literature. Legal entity responsible for the study: Alain R. Thierry. Funding: SIRIC Montpellier Cancer Grant INCa_Inserm_DGOS_12553. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.