AUA 2017: Best Abstract – Liquid biopsy for renal cell carcinoma

Boston, MA (UroToday.com) In this presentation, Dr. Al-Qassab described the concept of using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis and surveillance of renal cancer. The advantage of using ctDNA is due to its ease of collection from peripheral blood, and can be accessed in a relatively non-invasive manner. In this study, 40mL of peripheral blood samples were collected from 30 RCC patients and 32 controls. ctDNA was prepared and PCR amplification was performed to prepare sequencing libraries for the Illumina HiSeq platform. In the RCC cohort, 67% yielded detectable somatic mutations, resulting in nonsynonymous, frameshift, stopgain, or splice site mutations. This method proved sensitive even in a patient with a 1cm primary tumor. If validated in larger cohorts, this method may provide value for screening and early detection, surveillance of small renal masses, as well as post treatment monitoring.

Presenter: Usama Al-Qassab, MD

Written By: Roger Li MD Urologic Oncology Fellow, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center @UrogerliMD
Ashish M. Kamat MD Wayne B. Duddlesten Professor, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

at the 2017 AUA Annual Meeting - May 12 - 16, 2017 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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