Early detection of pre-malignant lesions in a KRASG12D-driven mouse lung cancer model by monitoring circulating free DNA

Rakhit, C. P., Trigg, R. M., Le Quesne, J., Kelly, M., Shaw, J. A., Pritchard, C. and Martins, L. M. (2019) Early detection of pre-malignant lesions in a KRASG12D-driven mouse lung cancer model by monitoring circulating free DNA. Disease Models and Mechanisms, 12(2), dmm036863. (doi: 10.1242/dmm.036863) (PMID:30760495) (PMCID:PMC6398498)

[img]
Preview
Text
218591.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

4MB

Abstract

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Two-thirds of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage that is refractory to curative treatment. Therefore, strategies for the early detection of lung cancer are urgently sought. Total circulating free DNA (cfDNA) and tumour-derived circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) are emerging as important biomarkers within a ‘liquid biopsy’ for monitoring human disease progression and response to therapy. Owing to the late clinical diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the potential for cfDNA and ctDNA as early detection biomarkers remains unexplored. Here, using a Cre-regulated genetically engineered mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma development, driven by KrasG12D (the KrasLSL-G12D mouse), we serially tracked the release of cfDNA/ctDNA and compared this with tumour burden as determined by micro-computed tomography (CT). To monitor ctDNA, a droplet digital PCR assay was developed to permit discrimination of the KrasLox-G12D allele from the KrasLSL-G12D and KrasWT alleles. We show that micro-CT correlates with endpoint histology and is able to detect pre-malignant tumours with a combined volume larger than 7 mm3. Changes in cfDNA/ctDNA levels correlate with micro-CT measurements in longitudinal sampling and are able to monitor the emergence of lesions before the adenoma-adenocarcinoma transition. Potentially, this work has implications for the early detection of human lung adenocarcinoma using ctDNA/cfDNA profiling.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This work was funded by the Medical Research Council, intramural project RG94521.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Le Quesne, Professor John
Authors: Rakhit, C. P., Trigg, R. M., Le Quesne, J., Kelly, M., Shaw, J. A., Pritchard, C., and Martins, L. M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
Journal Name:Disease Models and Mechanisms
Publisher:The Company of Biologists
ISSN:1754-8403
ISSN (Online):1754-8411
Published Online:12 February 2019
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd
First Published:First published in Disease Models and Mechanisms 2019 12: dmm036863
Publisher Policy:This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record