Analytical validation of the Target Selector ctDNA platform featuring single copy detection sensitivity for clinically actionable EGFR, BRAF, and KRAS mutations.

BACKGROUND: Personalized medicine requires accurate molecular profiling for targeted therapy decisions. Insufficient tissue yield or tumor heterogeneity frequently limits the correct tissue biomarker determination. As a noninvasive complement to traditional tissue biopsies, liquid biopsies detect and track cancer driver mutations from biofluids (e.g., blood, urine). Here we present the analytical validation of Target Selector™ ctDNA assays capable of single mutant DNA copy detection. METHODS: The Target Selector ctDNA assay applies a patented Switch-Blocker technology to suppress amplification of background (wild-type) WT alleles, while allowing specific amplification of very low frequency mutant alleles. In contrast to allele specific enrichment technologies like ddPCR, one Switch-Blocker inhibits amplification of a DNA target up to 15 bp in length (e.g., one Switch-Blocker covers all KRAS exon 2, codon 12 and 13 variants). Target enrichment is achieved through a quantitative PCR reaction; subsequent DNA sequencing confirms mutation identity. Analytical validation with cancer cell line DNA was conducted by three independent operators using five instruments across five days. RESULTS: A total of 3086 samples were tested on EGFR, BRAF and KRAS Target Selector ctDNA assays, with EGFR WT as a reference. All assays showed >99% analytical sensitivity and specificity. Single mutant copy detection is confirmed by experimental data and theoretical estimates. In the presence of 14000 WT DNA copies, limits of detection were: EGFR Del19, 0.01%; EGFR L858R, 0.02%; EGFR T790M, 0.01%; BRAF V600E, 0.01%; KRAS G12C, 0.02%. Inter- and intra-assay analyses showed r2>0.94, suggesting consistent performance among operational variables. Healthy donor samples (100 tests) showed clinical specificity at >99%. Finally, Target Selector clinical experience data of >2200 patient samples is consistent with published tissue mutation prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Highly sensitive Target Selector ctDNA assays with single mutant copy detection and limit of detection at 0.02% or better enable accurate molecular profiling vital for disease management.

An efficient binding chemistry for glass polynucleotide microarrays.

A variety of methods have been described for making synthetic polynucleotide microarrays. These include in situ synthesis directly on the array surface, for example, by photolithography or ink-jet printing technologies, and the application of presynthesized polynucleotides that are derivatized with various nucleophiles or electrophiles. In the latter case, a variety of surface chemistries have been developed, and several are available commercially. These chemistries must be compatible with nanoliter-scale volumes of polynucleotide reagents, which contact the array over a small portion of their surface. We reasoned that a three-dimensional polymer coating could potentially offer greater surface contact and higher binding efficiency. Here we describe a polyethylenimine-based coating chemistry that provides exceptional binding and hybridization characteristics. In our preferred process, size-fractionated polyethylenimine polymers are cross-linked onto an aminopropylsilanated glass surface in the presence of cyanuric chloride. The resulting three-dimensional coating binds polynucleotides through a mixture of covalent and noncovalent interactions as evidenced by comparisons between 5'-aminoalkyl modified and unmodified polynucleotides. Binding and hybridization comparisons are presented including analogous two-dimensional electrophilic and electrostatic chemistries.