Cell-Free DNA Methylation Liquid Biopsy Discriminates Ovarian Cancer

THURSDAY, Oct. 19, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- A classifier based on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation liquid biopsy can discriminate high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) from benign masses, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in Clinical Cancer Research.

David N. Buckley, from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and colleagues developed a cfDNA methylation liquid biopsy for risk assessment of early-stage HGSOC. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing was performed to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between HGSOC and normal ovarian and fallopian tube tissues. Hybridization probe capture was then performed for 1,677 DMRs; to discriminate HGSOC from benign masses, a classifier (OvaPrint) was constructed on an independent set of cfDNA samples. The generalizability of OvaPrint was assessed in a series of non-HGSOC epithelial ovarian cancers, including low-grade and borderline samples. Overall, 372 samples (59 tissue and 313 plasma) were analyzed.

The researchers found that for discriminating HGSOC from benign masses, OvaPrint achieved overall accuracy of 91 percent and had a positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 95 and 88 percent, respectively, surpassing other commercial tests. For non-HGSOC epithelial ovarian cancer, OvaPrint was less sensitive, although it may have potential utility for identifying low-grade and borderline tumors with higher malignant potential.

"Early detection saves lives," coauthor Bodour Salhia, Ph.D., also from the University of Southern California, said in a statement. "If we can accurately identify early-stage ovarian cancer, we can change the outcome of the disease and really crank up survival rates."

Two authors disclosed ties to CpG Diagnostics; one author disclosed ties to Aspira Women’s Health.

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