Open AccessClinical significance of circulating tumor cells and cell‐free DNA in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma
Author(s) -
Tombolan Lucia,
Rossi Elisabetta,
Binatti Andrea,
Zin Angelica,
Manicone Mariangela,
Facchinetti Antonella,
Lucchetta Silvia,
Affinita Maria Carmen,
Bonvini Paolo,
Bortoluzzi Stefania,
Zamarchi Rita,
Bisogno Gianni
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
molecular oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.332
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1878-0261
pISSN - 1574-7891
DOI - 10.1002/1878-0261.13197
Subject(s) - circulating tumor cell , rhabdomyosarcoma , epithelial cell adhesion molecule , liquid biopsy , desmin , medicine , pathology , bone marrow , biopsy , cancer research , disease monitoring , cancer , oncology , disease , sarcoma , immunohistochemistry , vimentin , metastasis
Liquid biopsy analysis represents a powerful and noninvasive tool to uncover biomarkers for disseminated disease assessment and longitudinal monitoring of patients. Herein, we explored the value of circulating and disseminated tumor cells (CTC and DTC, respectively) and cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). Peripheral blood and bone marrow samples were analyzed to detect and enumerate CTC and DTC, respectively. We used the epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM)‐based CellSearch platform coupled with an automatic device to collect both EpCAM‐positive and EpCAM‐low/negative CTCs. The standard assay was implemented, including the mesenchymal marker desmin. For selected cases, we molecularly profiled primary tumors and liquid biopsy biomarkers using whole‐exome sequencing and droplet digital PCR, respectively. RMS patients with metastatic disease had a significantly higher number of CTCs compared to those with localized disease, whereas DTCs were detected independently of disease presentation. The use of the desmin marker remarkably increased the identification of CTCs and DTCs in RMS samples. Of note, CTC clusters were detected in RMS patients with disseminated disease. Further, cfDNA and CTC molecular features closely reflected the molecular makeup of primary tumors and informed of disease course.