Page 15 - SDIR5 Abstract book 21 12 2021.
P. 15

ADVANCES IN SOLID TUMOR RESEARCH



               Session: Advances in solid tumor research
               LECTURES



                                ctDNA biomarker detection in patients with colorectal cancer

                                                                        1
                                                    Remond J.A. Fijneman
                                      1 The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Department of Pathology,
                                        Plesmanlaan 121, 1066CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
                                                       r.fijneman@nki.nl


               Background: Biomarkers reflect disease biology and have the potential to improve diagnosis, prognosis,
               prediction and monitoring of treatment response. Cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is an example
               of a very promising biomarker. Our studies aim to investigate the clinical utility of ctDNA testing to improve
               disease management of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients and methods: We make use of
               multicenter clinical trials and clinical studies organized within the Prospective Dutch CRC cohort PLCRC
               (www.PLCRC.nl) to arrange informed consent and collect clinical data, tissue and blood samples. Industrial
               grade ctDNA biomarker assays are developed and provided by private partners. In the COIN project, ctDNA
               study  data  is  used  for  early  health  technology  assessment  towards  scenarios  for  reimbursement  and
               approval by authorities. Results: We succeeded to establish the efficient logistics for multicenter collection
               of clinical samples and data. So far, more than 1500 CRC patients were accrued with stage II (PLCRC-
               MEDOCC and -CrEATE), stage III (PLCRC-PROVENC3) and stage IV (PLCRC-ORCA, CAIRO5, CAIRO6) disease.
               We compared diagnostic strategies how to apply liquid biopsy ctDNA testing as a predictive biomarker to
               determine eligibility for anti-EGFR therapy in patients with liver metastases. We currently investigate ctDNA
               prognostic value in post-surgery blood samples to better stratify stage II and stage III colon cancer patients
               for  adjuvant  chemotherapy.  Conclusions: Successful translation  of disease  biology  into  new  diagnostic
               applications  requires  solving  scientific,  ethical,  legal,  societal,  financial  and  regulatory  problems.
               Coordinated and collaborative (inter)national initiatives to establish a clinical framework for biomarker
               validation are instrumental to pave the road towards clinical implementation.
               Keywords: colorectal cancer; biomarkers; cell-free circulating tumor DNA

















                                                              2
   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20