Plasma cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection in longitudinally followed glioblastoma patients using TERT promoter mutation-specific droplet digital PCR assays.

Authors

null

Christine Cordova

National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

Christine Cordova , Mahrukh M. Syeda , Broderick Corless , Jennifer M. WIGGINS , Amie Patel , Sylvia Christine Kurz , Malcolm Delara , Zacharia Sawaged , Minerva Utate , Dimitris Placantonakis , John Golfinos , Jessica Schafrick , Joshua Seth Silverman , Rajan Jain , Matija Snuderl , David Zagzag , Yongzhao Shao , George Alan Karlin-Neumann , David Polsky , Andrew S. Chi

Organizations

National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, Weill-Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, NYU Langone Medical Center and School of Medicine, New York, NY, NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, BioRad, Hercules, CA, Neon Therapeutics, Boston, MA

Research Funding

Other

Background: There is a critical need for more specific and less invasive diagnostic and pharmacodynamic biomarkers in glioblastoma (GBM) patients (pts). Previously, we detected TERT promoter hotspot mutations (C228T and C250T) in the ctDNA of IDH wildtype (IDHwt) TERT promoter mutant GBM pts with 100% specificity using mutation-specific droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assays. Here, we explored the dynamics and clinical associations of mutant TERT ctDNA levels in GBM pts undergoing therapy. Methods: We examined 14 pts with suspected IDHwt GBM based on preoperative MRI. Plasma was isolated and frozen from ~15 mL whole blood samples collected pre- and post-op, at end of radiation (RT), and 1, 3, and 6 m after end of RT. TERT promoter mutations were identified in FFPE tumor samples using ddPCR assays for C228T/C250T. Plasma samples were analyzed using ddPCR assays specific for the corresponding tumor mutation. The validated thresholds for positive detection were 1.5 (C228T) and 1.7 copies/mL (C250T). Results: 13/14 (92.9%) IDHwt tumors had TERT mutations (7 C228T and 6 C250T). Six of these 13 (46%) pts had positive plasma TERT ctDNA preop (4 C228T, 2 C250T). The mean cross sectional area of enhancing disease at presentation for positive or negative preop mutant ctDNA was similar. All 4 pts with multiple contrast enhancing lesions had positive preop mutant ctDNA. 2 pts who were negative initially developed detectable mutant ctDNA preceding progression. 3/4 pts with equivocal radiographic pseudoprogression had ctDNA dynamics that correlated with eventual clinical outcome. One patient with unresectable GBM had declining mutant ctDNA in later collections during clinical stability. Conclusions: We detected plasma TERT ctDNA in 46% of TERT mutant GBM pts before surgery, and in 100% of pts with multiple contrast enhancing lesions. TERT mutant ctDNA levels correlated with pseudoprogression or true disease progression and predicted progression before MRI. These data suggest that larger studies to test circulating cell-free TERT mutation as a diagnostic and pharmacodynamic biomarker in GBM are warranted.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2019 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Central Nervous System Tumors

Track

Central Nervous System Tumors

Sub Track

Central Nervous System Tumors

Citation

J Clin Oncol 37, 2019 (suppl; abstr 2026)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2019.37.15_suppl.2026

Abstract #

2026

Poster Bd #

215

Abstract Disclosures

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