Direct detection of early-stage cancers using circulating tumor DNA

Early detection and intervention are likely to be the most effective means for reducing morbidity and mortality of human cancer. However, development of methods for noninvasive detection of early-stage tumors has remained a challenge. We have developed an approach called targeted error correction sequencing (TEC-Seq) that allows ultrasensitive direct evaluation of sequence changes in circulating cell-free DNA using massively parallel sequencing. We have used this approach to examine 58 cancer-related genes encompassing 81 kb. Analysis of plasma from 44 healthy individuals identified genomic changes related to clonal hematopoiesis in 16% of asymptomatic individuals but no alterations in driver genes related to…

• CF
  Commonwealth Foundation

  Award: award306628
• DM
  Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation

  Award: award306626
• KB
  Kræftens Bekæmpelse

  Awards: R133-A8520, award306633, award306632, R40-A1965-11-S2
• NN
  Novo Nordisk

  Awards: award306631, NNF14OC0012747
• DF
  Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond

  Awards: award306629, 11-105240
• SU
  Stand Up To Cancer

  Awards: SU2C-AACR-DT1415, award306627
• NO
  NIH Office of the Director

  Awards: award306624, CA121113, award306625, award306623, CA006973, CA180950