Circulating cell-free DNA: A novel biomarker for response to therapy in ovarian carcinoma

• DOI: 10.4161/cbt.5.10.3240
• Publication Date: 2011-02-03T18:22:12Z
• Authors: Aparna A. Kamat; Farideh Z. Bischoff; Dianne Dang; Matthew Baldwin; Liz Y. Han; Yvonne G. Lin; William M. Merritt; Charles N. Landen; Chunhua Lu; David M. Gershenson; Joe L. Simpson; Anil K. Sood
• Keywords: Combination therapy

Introduction: Cell-free DNA (CFDNA) is a reflection of both normal and tumor-derived released into the circulation through cellular necrosis apoptosis. We sought to determine whether tumor-specific plasma could be used as biomarker for tumor burden response therapy in an orthotopic ovarian cancer model. Methods: Female nude mice injected intraperitoneally with HeyA8 cells were treated either docetaxel alone or combination anti-angiogenic agents (AEE788 -- dual VEGFR EGFR antagonist EA5 – monoclonal antibody against ephrin A2). Following extraction from plasma, quantification was performed by real-time PCR using human specific beta-actin primers. The number genome equivalents (GE/ml) determined standard curve. Apoptosis assessed TUNEL staining tumors. Results: levels increased progressively increasing (R2=0.8, p