New Liquid Biopsy Approach 30% More Sensitive in Detecting Tumor DNA in Blood
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 18 May 2023 |

Pancreatic cancer ranks as the seventh most common cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Despite a rise in its occurrence, there is a significant deficit in effective treatment options. This leads to a bleak outlook for those diagnosed with this cancer type, with roughly 70% succumbing to the disease within a year following diagnosis. Therefore, understanding the development and diverse nature of pancreatic cancer at the cellular level is vital for pinpointing potential treatment targets. Liquid biopsy is gaining prominence as a non-invasive technique for detecting and monitoring circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the bloodstream, providing valuable information on cancer growth patterns and intra-tumor heterogeneity, which can cause resistance to cancer drugs. A challenge with liquid biopsy, however, is the limited sensitivity of current methods for detecting tumors that do not release substantial DNA into the blood, such as pancreatic cancer. Now, researchers have developed a novel ctDNA-based approach that identifies subclonal copy number alterations in the evolution of pancreatic cancer. This new method, known as ACT-Discover – Aneuploidy in Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA), has demonstrated 30% greater sensitivity than conventional methods in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Researchers at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology’s (VHIO, Barcelona, Spain) incorporated a comprehensive analysis of blood samples, including both germinal DNA and tumor DNA data to develop the innovative liquid biopsy technique. This method can identify ctDNA in an additional 30% of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, compared to existing techniques. With a focus on improving pancreatic cancer detection, the researchers aimed to design a more sensitive liquid biopsy approach to detect ctDNA in blood and assess genomic and molecular attributes of tumors as they evolve. In a study of 24 patients with end-stage pancreatic cancer, the ACT-Discover technique was employed to track the disease's progression. The results demonstrated that the comprehensive new liquid biopsy method can identify ctDNA in an additional 30% of patients when compared to traditional liquid biopsy methods.
“Being able to access genetic and genomic insights in a non-invasive way, and to do so in series throughout the course of disease, provides valuable information to deliver on the true promise of precision cancer medicine in an increasing number of tumor types, including pancreatic cancer,” said co-corresponding author Manuel Hidalgo.
“Our results underpin the importance of sampling approaches over time and across space in cancer as well as ctDNA-based approaches in tracking tumor evolution. Findings also highlight intra-tumor heterogeneity within advanced pancreatic cancer,” said Rodrigo A. Toledo, co-corresponding author of this present study.
Related Links:
VHIO
Latest Molecular Diagnostics News
- Highly Accurate Biomarkers Could Detect Ovarian Cancer Before Clinical Diagnosis
- New Gene Tool to Enable Earlier Detection and Treatment of Cardiometabolic Diseases
- Genetic Tool Predicts Lithium Responsiveness in Bipolar Disorder Patients
- Genetic Testing Benefits Critically Ill Adults
- Testing Blood Samples for Proteins Can Reveal Malaria Severity
- Blood Test Detects Multiple Sclerosis Risk Years Before Onset of Symptoms
- Blood-Based Biomarkers Could Detect Alzheimer's as Early as Middle Age
- RNA Screening Test Could Detect Colon Polyps Before They Become Cancerous
- New RT-LAMP Assay Offers Affordable and Reliable Pathogen Detection for Resource-Limited Settings
- New Biomarker Panel to Enable Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer
- Ultrarapid Whole Genome Sequencing for Neonatal and Pediatric Patients Delivers Results In 48 Hours
- AI-Enabled Blood Test Demonstrates Diagnostic, Prognostic and Predictive Utility Across Cancer Continuum
- DNA Methylation Signatures of Aging Could Help Assess Mortality Risk
- Molecular Diagnostics System Provides Lab-Quality Results at POC
- Cellular Signature Identifies Patients with Treatment Resistant Prostate Tumors
- MCED Could Be Valuable Supplement to Traditional Cancer Screening Approaches
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Skin Swabs Could Detect Parkinson’s Years Before Symptoms Appear
Parkinson’s disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose in its early stages, as motor symptoms do not appear until later in the progression of the disease. The ability to detect the disease up to seven... Read more
New Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Designed to Meet Growing Demands of Modern Labs
A new clinical chemistry analyzer is designed to provide outstanding performance and maximum efficiency, without compromising affordability, to meet the growing demands of modern laboratories.... Read more
New Reference Measurement Procedure Standardizes Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Results
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) play a key role in diagnosing a wide range of infectious diseases. These tests are generally known for their high sensitivity and specificity, and they can be developed... Read moreHematology
view channel
Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results
Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more
First Point-of-Care Heparin Monitoring Test Provides Results in Under 15 Minutes
Heparin dosing requires careful management to avoid both bleeding and clotting complications. In high-risk situations like extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), mortality rates can reach about 50%,... Read moreImmunology
view channel
New AI System Uncovers Hidden Cell Subtypes to Advance Cancer Immunotherapy
To produce effective targeted therapies for cancer, scientists need to isolate the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of cancer cells, both within and across different tumors. These differences significantly... Read more
Evolutionary Clinical Trial to Identify Novel Biomarker-Driven Therapies for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer, which occurs when cancer spreads from the breast to other parts of the body, is one of the most difficult cancers to treat. Nearly 90% of patients with metastatic cancer will... Read more
Groundbreaking Lateral Flow Test Quantifies Nucleosomes in Whole Venous Blood in Minutes
Diagnosing immune disruptions quickly and accurately is crucial in conditions such as sepsis, where timely intervention is critical for patient survival. Traditional testing methods can be slow, expensive,... Read moreMicrobiology
view channel
Early Detection of Gut Microbiota Metabolite Linked to Atherosclerosis Could Revolutionize Diagnosis
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and atherosclerosis plays a critical role in its development. This chronic condition, characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries... Read more
Viral Load Tests Can Help Predict Mpox Severity
Mpox is a viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms and a characteristic rash, which evolves significantly over time and varies between patients. The disease spreads mainly through direct contact with... Read more
Gut Microbiota Analysis Enables Early and Non-Invasive Detection of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder marked by abnormal glucose metabolism during pregnancy, typically emerging in the mid to late stages. It significantly heightens the risk of... Read morePathology
view channel
AI Tool Accurately Determines Breast Cancer Prognosis
A new study has found that cells and tissues surrounding a breast cancer tumor may hold critical information about how patients will respond to treatment. The research, published in the journal Patterns,... Read more
Powerful New Tool Improves Tissue Cancer Analysis
Studying the mix of cell types in human tissue is crucial for understanding diseases like cancer, but it presents significant challenges in both accuracy and scalability. The tumor microenvironment, composed... Read moreTechnology
view channel
Electronic Biosensors Used to Detect Pathogens Can Rapidly Detect Cancer Cells
A major challenge in healthcare is the early and affordable detection of serious diseases such as cancer. Early diagnosis remains difficult due to the complexity of identifying specific genetic markers... Read more
Safer, Portable and Low-Cost Imaging Solution to Revolutionize Biomedical Diagnostics
In diagnosing diseases and monitoring treatment, accurate and quick detection of temperature within biological tissues can be crucial, especially in early disease detection. Conventional methods such as... Read more
Multifunctional Nanomaterial Simultaneously Performs Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment, and Immune Activation
Cancer treatments, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, have significant limitations. These treatments not only target cancerous areas but also damage healthy tissues, causing side effects... Read moreIndustry
view channel
QuidelOrtho and BÜHLMANN Collaborate on Gastrointestinal Biomarker Tests
QuidelOrtho Corporation (San Diego, CA, USA) and BÜHLMANN Laboratories AG (Schönenbuch, Switzerland) have announced the availability of the BÜHLMANN fCAL turbo and fPELA turbo assays on QuidelOrtho's... Read more