title: Quantitative and qualitative characterization of plasma DNA identifies primary and recurrent colorectal cancer.
abstract: Because plasma DNA may be a useful tool for cancer detection, we screened primary tumors and related multiple plasma samples at the time of surgery and during the follow-up period for plasma DNA level as well as for K-Ras mutations and p16INK4a promoter hypermethylation in colorectal cancer patients. At the time of surgery, DNA levels were higher in tumor patients than in healthy donors, and K-Ras and p16INK4a alterations were detected in 7 and 11 cancers respectively, and in all related plasma samples. During the follow-up, plasma DNA levels decrease progressively but rapidly increased when a relapse occurred, whereas K-Ras and p16INK4a alterations were detected only in relapsed patients. Therefore, combined quantitative and qualitative analyses of plasma DNA confirm the presence of colorectal cancer, define disease-free status and indicate the presence of relapse.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frattini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Signoroni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balestra
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lusa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sozzi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertario
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pilotti
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pierotti
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D019942:Genes, p16; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry*; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1