Clinical relevance of circulating KRAS mutated DNA in plasma from patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

We used KRAS mutations to investigate the clinical relevance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) measurements in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Fifty-three blood samples were collected from 14 prospectively recruited patients prior to chemotherapy (gemcitabine or FOLFIRINOX) and subsequently every month during treatment. Samples were processed by density centrifugation and plasma DNA isolation. A Peptide–nucleic acid–clamp PCR was then used to detect KRAS mutations (present in >90% of pancreatic cancers) as a surrogate marker for ctDNA.

Source: Molecular Oncology - December 16, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Kjersti Tjensvoll, Morten Lapin, Tove Buhl, Satu Oltedal, Katrine Steen-Ottosen Berry, Bjørnar Gilje, Jon Arne Søreide, Millind Javle, Oddmund Nordgård, Rune Smaaland Source Type: research