Single-stranded pre-methylated 5mC adapters uncover the methylation profile of plasma ultrashort Single-stranded cell-free DNA.

Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (BS-Seq) measures cytosine methylation changes at single-base resolution and can be used to profile cell-free DNA (cfDNA). In plasma, ultrashort single-stranded cfDNA (uscfDNA, ∼50 nt) has been identified together with 167 bp double-stranded mononucleosomal cell-free DNA (mncfDNA). However, the methylation profile of uscfDNA has not been described. Conventional BS-Seq workflows may not be helpful because bisulfite conversion degrades larger DNA into smaller fragments, leading to erroneous categorization as uscfDNA. We describe the '5mCAdpBS-Seq' workflow in which pre-methylated 5mC (5-methylcytosine) single-stranded adapters are ligated to heat-denatured cfDNA before bisulfite conversion. This method retains only DNA fragments that are unaltered by bisulfite treatment, resulting in less biased uscfDNA methylation analysis. Using 5mCAdpBS-Seq, uscfDNA had lower levels of DNA methylation (∼15%) compared to mncfDNA and was enriched in promoters and CpG islands. Hypomethylated uscfDNA fragments were enriched in upstream transcription start sites (TSSs), and the intensity of enrichment was correlated with expressed genes of hemopoietic cells. Using tissue-of-origin deconvolution, we inferred that uscfDNA is derived primarily from eosinophils, neutrophils, and monocytes. As proof-of-principle, we show that characteristics of the methylation profile of uscfDNA can distinguish non-small cell lung carcinoma from non-cancer samples. The 5mCAdpBS-Seq workflow is recommended for any cfDNA methylation-based investigations.

A review on the impact of single-stranded library preparation on plasma cell-free diversity for cancer detection.

In clinical oncology, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has shown immense potential in its ability to noninvasively detect cancer at various stages and monitor the progression of therapy. Despite the rapid improvements in cfDNA liquid biopsy approaches, achieving the required sensitivity to detect rare tumor-derived cfDNA still remains a challenge. For next-generation sequencing, the perceived presentation of cfDNA is strongly linked to the extraction and library preparation protocols. Conventional double-stranded DNA library preparation (dsDNA-LP) focuses on assessing ~167bp double-stranded mononucleosomal (mncfDNA) and its other oligonucleosomal cell-free DNA counterparts in plasma. However, dsDNA-LP methods fail to include short, single-stranded, or nicked DNA in the final library preparation, biasing the representation of the actual cfDNA populations in plasma. The emergence of single-stranded library preparation (ssDNA-LP) strategies over the past decade has now allowed these other populations of cfDNA to be studied from plasma. With the use of ssDNA-LP, single-stranded, nicked, and ultrashort cfDNA can be comprehensively assessed for its molecular characteristics and clinical potential. In this review, we overview the current literature on applications of ssDNA-LP on plasma cfDNA from a potential cancer liquid biopsy perspective. To this end, we discuss the molecular principles of single-stranded DNA adapter ligation, how library preparation contributes to the understanding of native cfDNA characteristics, and the potential for ssDNA-LP to improve the sensitivity of circulating tumor DNA detection. Additionally, we review the current literature on the newly reported species of plasma ultrashort single-stranded cell-free DNA plasma, which appear biologically distinct from mncfDNA. We conclude with a discussion of future perspectives of ssDNA-LP for liquid biopsy endeavors.

Multi-faceted attributes of salivary cell-free DNA as liquid biopsy biomarkers for gastric cancer detection.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis from biofluids have opened new avenues for liquid biopsy (LB). However, current cfDNA LB assays are limited by the availability of existing information on established genotypes associated with tumor tissues. Certain cancers present with a limited list of established mutated cfDNA biomarkers, and thus, nonmutated cfDNA characteristics along with alternative biofluids are needed to broaden the available cfDNA targets for cancer detection. Saliva is an intriguing and accessible biofluid that has yet to be fully explored for its clinical utility for cancer detection. METHODS: In this report, we employed a low-coverage single stranded (ss) library NGS pipeline "Broad-Range cell-free DNA-Seq" (BRcfDNA-Seq) using saliva to comprehensively investigate the characteristics of salivary cfDNA (ScfDNA). The identification of cfDNA features has been made possible by applying novel cfDNA processing techniques that permit the incorporation of ultrashort, ss, and jagged DNA fragments. As a proof of concept using 10 gastric cancer (GC) and 10 noncancer samples, we examined whether ScfDNA characteristics, including fragmentomics, end motif profiles, microbial contribution, and human chromosomal mapping, could differentiate between these two groups. RESULTS: Individual and integrative analysis of these ScfDNA features demonstrated significant differences between the two cohorts, suggesting that disease state may affect the ScfDNA population by altering nuclear cleavage or the profile of contributory organism cfDNA to total ScfDNA. We report that principal component analysis integration of several aspects of salivary cell-free DNA fragmentomic profiles, genomic element profiles, end-motif sequence patterns, and distinct oral microbiome populations can differentiate the two populations with a p value of < 0.0001 (PC1). CONCLUSION: These novel features of ScfDNA characteristics could be clinically useful for improving saliva-based LB detection and the eventual monitoring of local or systemic diseases.

The Liquid Biopsy Consortium: Challenges and opportunities for early cancer detection and monitoring.

The emerging field of liquid biopsy stands at the forefront of novel diagnostic strategies for cancer and other diseases. Liquid biopsy allows minimally invasive molecular characterization of cancers for diagnosis, patient stratification to therapy, and longitudinal monitoring. Liquid biopsy strategies include detection and monitoring of circulating tumor cells, cell-free DNA, and extracellular vesicles. In this review, we address the current understanding and the role of existing liquid-biopsy-based modalities in cancer diagnostics and monitoring. We specifically focus on the technical and clinical challenges associated with liquid biopsy and biomarker development being addressed by the Liquid Biopsy Consortium, established through the National Cancer Institute. The Liquid Biopsy Consortium has developed new methods/assays and validated existing methods/technologies to capture and characterize tumor-derived circulating cargo, as well as addressed existing challenges and provided recommendations for advancing biomarker assays.

Distinct Features of Plasma Ultrashort Single-Stranded Cell-Free DNA as Biomarkers for Lung Cancer Detection.

BACKGROUND: Using broad range cell-free DNA sequencing (BRcfDNA-Seq), a nontargeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) methodology, we previously identified a novel class of approximately 50 nt ultrashort single-stranded cell-free DNA (uscfDNA) in plasma that is distinctly different from 167 bp mononucleosomal cell-free DNA (mncfDNA). We hypothesize that uscfDNA possesses characteristics that are useful for disease detection. METHODS: Using BRcfDNA-Seq, we examined both cfDNA populations in the plasma of 18 noncancer controls and 14 patients with late-stage nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). In comparison to mncfDNA, we assessed whether functional element (FE) peaks, fragmentomics, end-motifs, and G-Quadruplex (G-Quad) signatures could be useful features of uscfDNA for NSCLC determination. RESULTS: In noncancer participants, compared to mncfDNA, uscfDNA fragments showed a 45.2-fold increased tendency to form FE peaks (enriched in promoter, intronic, and exonic regions), demonstrated a distinct end-motif-frequency profile, and presented with a 4.9-fold increase in G-Quad signatures. Within NSCLC participants, only the uscfDNA population had discoverable FE peak candidates. Additionally, uscfDNA showcased different end-motif-frequency candidates distinct from mncfDNA. Although both cfDNA populations showed increased fragmentation in NSCLC, the G-Quad signatures were more discriminatory in uscfDNA. Compilation of cfDNA features using principal component analysis revealed that the first 5 principal components of both cfDNA subtypes had a cumulative explained variance of >80%. CONCLUSIONS: These observations indicate that the distinct biological processes of uscfDNA and that FE peaks, fragmentomics, end-motifs, and G-Quad signatures are uscfDNA features with promising biomarker potential. These findings further justify its exploration as a distinct class of biomarker to augment pre-existing liquid biopsy approaches.

Multi-Faceted Attributes of Salivary Cell-free DNA as Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers for Gastric Cancer Detection.

Background: Recent advances in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis from biofluids have opened new avenues for liquid biopsy (LB). However, current cfDNA LB assays are limited by the availability of existing information on established genotypes associated with tumor tissues. Certain cancers present with a limited list of established mutated cfDNA biomarkers, and thus, nonmutated cfDNA characteristics along with alternative biofluids are needed to broaden the available cfDNA targets for cancer detection. Saliva is an intriguing and accessible biofluid that has yet to be fully explored for its clinical utility for cancer detection. Methods: In this report, we employed a low-coverage single stranded (ss) library NGS pipeline "Broad-Range cell-free DNA-Seq" (BRcfDNA-Seq) using saliva to comprehensively investigate the characteristics of salivary cfDNA (ScfDNA). The identification of cfDNA features has been made possible by applying novel cfDNA processing techniques that permit the incorporation of ultrashort, ss, and jagged DNA fragments. As a proof of concept using 10 gastric cancer (GC) and 10 noncancer samples, we examined whether ScfDNA characteristics, including fragmentomics, end motif profiles, microbial contribution, and human chromosomal mapping, could differentiate between these two groups. Results: Individual and integrative analysis of these ScfDNA features demonstrated significant differences between the two cohorts, suggesting that disease state may affect the ScfDNA population by altering nuclear cleavage or the profile of contributory organism cfDNA to total ScfDNA. We report that principal component analysis integration of several aspects of salivary cell-free DNA fragmentomic profiles, genomic element profiles, end-motif sequence patterns, and distinct oral microbiome populations can differentiate the two populations with a p value of < 0.0001 (PC1). Conclusion: These novel features of ScfDNA characteristics could be clinically useful for improving saliva-based LB detection and the eventual monitoring of local or systemic diseases.

Single-Droplet Microsensor for Ultra-Short Circulating EFGR Mutation Detection in Lung Cancer Based on Multiplex EFIRM Liquid Biopsy.

Liquid biopsy is a rapidly emerging field that involves the minimal/non-invasive assessment of signature somatic mutations through the analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) shed by tumor cells in bodily fluids. Broadly speaking, the unmet need in liquid biopsy lung cancer detection is the lack of a multiplex platform that can detect a mutation panel of lung cancer genes using a minimum amount of sample, especially for ultra-short ctDNA (usctDNA). Here, we developed a non-PCR and non-NGS-based single-droplet-based multiplexing microsensor technology, "Electric-Field-Induced Released and Measurement (EFIRM) Liquid Biopsy" (m-eLB), for lung cancer-associated usctDNA. The m-eLB provides a multiplexable assessment of usctDNA within a single droplet of biofluid in only one well of micro-electrodes, as each electrode is coated with different probes for the ctDNA. This m-eLB prototype demonstrates accuracy for three tyrosine-kinase-inhibitor-related EGFR target sequences in synthetic nucleotides. The accuracy of the multiplexing assay has an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.98 for L858R, 0.94 for Ex19 deletion, and 0.93 for T790M. In combination, the 3 EGFR assay has an AUC of 0.97 for the multiplexing assay.

Plasma contains ultrashort single-stranded DNA in addition to nucleosomal cell-free DNA.

Plasma cell-free DNA is being widely explored as a biomarker for clinical screening. Currently, methods are optimized for the extraction and detection of double-stranded mononucleosomal cell-free DNA of ∼160bp in length. We introduce uscfDNA-seq, a single-stranded cell-free DNA next-generation sequencing pipeline, which bypasses previous limitations to reveal a population of ultrashort single-stranded cell-free DNA in human plasma. This species has a modal size of 50nt and is distinctly separate from mononucleosomal cell-free DNA. Treatment with single-stranded and double-stranded specific nucleases suggests that ultrashort cell-free DNA is primarily single-stranded. It is distributed evenly across chromosomes and has a similar distribution profile over functional elements as the genome, albeit with an enrichment over promoters, exons, and introns, which may be suggestive of a terminal state of genome degradation. The examination of this cfDNA species could reveal new features of cell death pathways or it can be used for cell-free DNA biomarker discovery.

Longitudinal Circulating Tumor DNA Analysis in Blood and Saliva for Prediction of Response to Osimertinib and Disease Progression in EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Background: We assessed whether serial ctDNA monitoring of plasma and saliva predicts response and resistance to osimertinib in EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma. Three ctDNA technologies-blood-based droplet-digital PCR (ddPCR), next-generation sequencing (NGS), and saliva-based EFIRM liquid biopsy (eLB)-were employed to investigate their complementary roles. Methods: Plasma and saliva samples were collected from patients enrolled in a prospective clinical trial of osimertinib and local ablative therapy upon progression (NCT02759835). Plasma was analyzed by ddPCR and NGS. Saliva was analyzed by eLB. Results: A total of 25 patients were included. We analyzed 534 samples by ddPCR (n = 25), 256 samples by NGS (n = 24) and 371 samples by eLB (n = 22). Among 20 patients who progressed, ctDNA progression predated RECIST 1.1 progression by a median of 118 days (range: 61-272 days) in 11 (55%) patients. Of nine patients without ctDNA progression by ddPCR, two patients had an increase in mutant EGFR by eLB and two patients were found to have ctDNA progression by NGS. Levels of ctDNA measured by ddPCR and NGS at early time points, but not volumetric tumor burden, were associated with PFS. EGFR/ERBB2/MET/KRAS amplifications, EGFR C797S, PIK3CA E545K, PTEN V9del, and CTNNB1 S45P were key resistance mechanisms identified by NGS. Conclusion: Serial assessment of ctDNA in plasma and saliva predicts response and resistance to osimertinib, with each assay having supplementary roles.

SNAP-tag-enabled super-resolution imaging reveals constitutive and agonist-dependent trafficking of GPR56 in pancreatic ß-cells.

OBJECTIVE: Members of the adhesion G protein-coupled receptor (aGPCR) subfamily are important actors in metabolic processes, with GPR56 (ADGRG1) emerging as a possible target for type 2 diabetes therapy. GPR56 can be activated by collagen III, its endogenous ligand, and by a synthetic seven amino-acid peptide (TYFAVLM; P7) contained within the GPR56 Stachel sequence. However, the mechanisms regulating GPR56 trafficking dynamics and agonist activities are not yet clear. METHODS: Here, we introduced SNAPf-tag into the N-terminal segment of GPR56 to monitor GPR56 cellular activity in situ. Confocal and super-resolution microscopy were used to investigate the trafficking pattern of GPR56 in native MIN6 ß-cells and in MIN6 ß-cells where GPR56 had been deleted by CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. Insulin secretion, changes in intracellular calcium, and ß-cell apoptosis were determined by radioimmunoassay, single-cell calcium microfluorimetry, and measuring caspase 3/7 activities, respectively, in MIN6 ß-cells and human islets. RESULTS: SNAP-tag labelling indicated that GPR56 predominantly underwent constitutive internalisation in the absence of an exogenous agonist, unlike GLP-1R. Collagen III further stimulated GPR56 internalisation, whereas P7 was without significant effect. The overexpression of GPR56 in MIN6 ß-cells did not affect insulin secretion. However, it was associated with reduced ß-cell apoptosis, while the deletion of GPR56 made MIN6 ß-cells more susceptible to cytokine-induced apoptosis. P7 induced a rapid increase in the intracellular calcium in MIN6 ß-cells (in a GPR56-dependent manner) and human islets, and it also caused a sustained and reversible increase in insulin secretion from human islets. Collagen III protected human islets from cytokine-induced apoptosis, while P7 was without significant effect. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that GPR56 exhibits both agonist-dependent and -independent trafficking in ß-cells and suggest that while GPR56 undergoes constitutive signalling, it can also respond to its ligands when required. We have also identified that constitutive and agonist-dependent GPR56 activation is coupled to protect ß-cells against apoptosis, offering a potential therapeutic target to maintain ß-cell mass in type 2 diabetes.

Development and validation of a quantitative, non-invasive, highly sensitive and specific, electrochemical assay for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in saliva.

Amperial™ is a novel assay platform that uses immobilized antigen in a conducting polymer gel followed by detection via electrochemical measurement of oxidation-reduction reaction between H2O2/Tetrametylbenzidine and peroxidase enzyme in a completed assay complex. A highly specific and sensitive assay was developed to quantify levels of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in saliva. After establishing linearity and limit of detection we established a reference range of 5 standard deviations above the mean. There were no false positives in 667 consecutive saliva samples obtained prior to 2019. Saliva was obtained from 34 patients who had recovered from documented COVID-19 or had documented positive serologies. All of the patients with symptoms severe enough to seek medical attention had positive antibody tests and 88% overall had positive results. We obtained blinded paired saliva and plasma samples from 14 individuals. The plasma was analyzed using an EUA-FDA cleared ELISA kit and the saliva was analyzed by our Amperial™ assay. All 5 samples with negative plasma titers were negative in saliva testing. Eight of the 9 positive plasma samples were positive in saliva and 1 had borderline results. A CLIA validation was performed as a laboratory developed test in a high complexity laboratory. A quantitative non-invasive saliva based SARS-CoV-2 antibody test was developed and validated with sufficient specificity to be useful for population-based monitoring and monitoring of individuals following vaccination.

Validation of the plasmid study to relate DNA damaging effects of radionuclides to those from external beam radiotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: The biological consequences of absorbed radiation doses are ill-defined for radiopharmaceuticals, unlike for external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). A reliable assay that assesses the biological consequences of any radionuclide is much needed. Here, we evaluated the cell-free plasmid DNA assay to determine the relative biological effects of radionuclides such as Auger electron-emitting [67Ga]GaCl3 or [111In]InCl3 compared to EBRT. METHODS: Supercoiled pBR322 plasmid DNA (1.25 or 5 ng/µL) was incubated with 0.5 or 1 MBq [67Ga]GaCl3 or [111In]InCl3 for up to 73 h or was exposed to EBRT (137Cs; 5 Gy/min; 0-40 Gy). The induction of relaxed and linear plasmid DNA, representing single and double strand breaks, respectively, was assessed by gel electrophoresis. Chelated forms of 67Ga were also investigated using DOTA and THP. Topological conversion rates for supercoiled-to-relaxed (ksrx) or relaxed-to-linear (krlx) DNA were obtained by fitting a kinetic model. RESULTS: DNA damage increased both with EBRT dose and incubation time for [67Ga]GaCl3 and [111In]InCl3. Damage caused by [67Ga]GaCl3 decreased when chelated. [67Ga]GaCl3 proved more damaging than [111In]InCl3; 1.25 ng/µL DNA incubated with 0.5 MBq [67Ga]GaCl3 for 2 h led to a 70% decrease of intact plasmid DNA as opposed to only a 19% decrease for [111In]InCl3. For both EBRT and radionuclides, conversion rates were slower for 5 ng/µL than 1.25 ng/µL plasmid DNA. DNA damage caused by 1 Gy EBRT was the equivalent to damage caused by 0.5 MBq unchelated [67Ga]GaCl3 and [111In]InCl3 after 2.05 ± 0.36 and 9.3 ± 0.77 h of incubation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This work has highlighted the power of the plasmid DNA assay for a rapid determination of the relative biological effects of radionuclides compared to external beam radiotherapy. It is envisaged this approach will enable the systematic assessment of imaging and therapeutic radionuclides, including Auger electron-emitters, to further inform radiopharmaceutical design and application.

Methods and techniques for in vitro subcellular localization of radiopharmaceuticals and radionuclides.

In oncology, the holy grail of radiotherapy is specific radiation dose deposition in tumours with minimal healthy tissue toxicity. If used appropriately, injectable, systemic radionuclide therapies could meet these criteria, even for treatment of micrometastases and single circulating tumour cells. The clinical use of α and ß- particle-emitting molecular radionuclide therapies is rising, however clinical translation of Auger electron-emitting radionuclides is hampered by uncertainty around their exact subcellular localisation, which in turn affects the accuracy of dosimetry. This review aims to discuss and compare the advantages and disadvantages of various subcellular localisation methods available to localise radiopharmaceuticals and radionuclides for in vitro investigations.

Development and validation of a highly sensitive and specific electrochemical assay to quantify anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies to facilitate pandemic surveillance and monitoring of vaccine response.

Amperial™ is a novel assay platform that uses immobilized antigen in a conductive polymer gel followed by an electrochemical detection. A highly specific and sensitive assay was developed to quantify levels of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in saliva. After establishing linearity and limit of detection we established a reference range of 5 standard deviations above the mean. There were no false positives in 667 consecutive saliva samples obtained prior to 2019. Saliva was obtained from 34 patients who had recovered from documented COVID-19 or had documented positive serologies. All of the patients with symptoms severe enough to seek medical attention had positive antibody tests and 88% overall had positive results. We obtained blinded paired saliva and plasma samples from 14 individuals. The plasma was analyzed using an EUA-FDA cleared ELISA kit and the saliva was analyzed by our Amperial™ assay. All 5 samples with negative plasma titers were negative in saliva testing. Eight of the 9 positive plasma samples were positive in saliva and 1 had borderline results. A CLIA validation was performed as a laboratory developed test in a high complexity laboratory. A quantitative non-invasive saliva based SARSCoV-2 antibody test was developed and validated with sufficient specificity to be useful for population-based monitoring and monitoring of individuals following vaccination.

Reviews on Current Liquid Biopsy for Detection and Management of Pancreatic Cancers.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Pancreatic cancer presents dismal clinical outcomes in patients, and the incidence of pancreatic cancer has continuously increased to likely become the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths by as early as 2030. One of main reasons for the high mortality rate of pancreatic cancer is the lack of tools for early-stage detection. Current practice in detecting and monitoring therapeutic response in pancreatic cancer relies on imaging analysis and invasive endoscopic examination. Liquid biopsy-based analysis of genetic alterations in biofluids has become a fundamental component in the diagnosis and management of cancers. There is an urgent need for scientific and technological advancement to detect pancreatic cancer early and to develop effective therapies. The development of a highly sensitive and specific liquid biopsy tool will require extensive understanding on the characteristics of circulating tumor DNA in biofluids. Here, we have reviewed the current status of liquid biopsy in detecting and monitoring pancreatic cancers and our understanding of circulating tumor DNA that should be considered for the development of a liquid biopsy tool, which will greatly aid in the diagnosis and healthcare of people at risk.

Longitudinal Monitoring of EGFR and PIK3CA Mutations by Saliva-Based EFIRM in Advanced NSCLC Patients With Local Ablative Therapy and Osimertinib Treatment: Two Case Reports.

Background: The longitudinal monitoring of actionable oncogenes in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is crucial for clinicians to evaluate current therapeutic response and adjust therapeutic strategies. Saliva-based electric field-induced release and measurement (EFIRM) is liquid biopsy platform to that can directly detect mutation genes with a small volume of samples. Herein, we compared the effectiveness of longitudinal monitoring for the combination of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) mutations between saliva-based EFIRM and plasma-based platforms (ddPCR and NGS) in two advanced NSCLC patients undergoing the treatment with osimertinib before and after local ablative therapy (LAT). Patients and Methods: Two patients with unresectable advanced NSCLC were enrolled into the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (NIHCC) Study (ClinicalTrials.gov: 16-C-0092; local ablative therapy for the treatment of oligoprogressive, EGFR-mutated, non-small cell lung cancer after treatment with osimertinib). Serial collections of saliva, plasma, and metastatic tumor volume measurement by computed tomography (CT) were performed. Longitudinal paired saliva and plasma samples were analyzed for p.L858R EGFR, exon19 del EGFR, and p.E545K PIK3CA ctDNA using EFIRM (saliva) and ddPCR and NGS (plasma). Results: In Case 1, the saliva ctDNA curve of exon19 del EGFR by EFIRM demonstrated a strong similarity to those of tumor volume (R = 0.78, P = 0.00) and exon19 del EGFR in ddPCR (R = 0.53, P = 0.01). Moreover, the curve of p.E545K PIK3CA in EFIRM showed similarity to those of tumor volume (R = 0.70, P = 0.00) and p.E545K PIK3CA in NGS (R = 0.72, P = 0.00). In Case 2, the curve of p.E545K PIK3CA in EFIRM revealed a reverse relationship to that of tumor volume (R = -0.65, P = 0.01). Conclusion: In these two case reports, saliva-based EFIRM platform demonstrates a high level of concordance to plasma-based platforms (ddPCR and NGS) for longitudinally monitoring the combination of EGFR and PIK3CA ctDNA and can be a useful platform to monitor tumor progression and response to targeted therapy in NSCLC patients.

Electric Field-Induced Release and Measurement (EFIRM): Characterization and Technical Validation of a Novel Liquid Biopsy Platform in Plasma and Saliva.

Electric field-induced release and measurement (EFIRM) is a novel, plate-based, liquid biopsy platform capable of detecting circulating tumor DNA containing EGFR mutations directly from saliva and plasma in both early- and late-stage patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. We investigated the properties of the target molecule for EFIRM and determined that the platform preferentially detects single-stranded DNA molecules. We then investigated the properties of the EFIRM assay and determined the linearity, linear range, precision, and limit of detection for six different EGFR variants (the four most common g.Exon19del variants), p.T790M, and p.L858R). The limit of detection was in single-digit copy number for the latter two mutations, and the limit of detection for Exon19del was 5000 copies. Following these investigations, technical validations were performed for four separate EFIRM liquid biopsy assays, qualitative and quantitative assays for both saliva and plasma. We conclude that EFIRM liquid biopsy is an assay platform that interrogates a biomarker not targeted by any other extant platform (namely, circulating single-stranded DNA molecules). The assay has acceptable performance characteristics in both quantitative and qualitative assays on both saliva and plasma.

The haematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors' sense of coherence about their experiences: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: To explore the experiences of haematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors attending the long-term follow-up unit. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study of eight post-haematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors which were interviewed guided by the sense of coherence framework. Thematic analysis was used to extract meaningful explication of the survivors' experiences. RESULTS: The post-haematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors interviewed were five females and three males with age ranging from 27 to 67 years and had the stem cell transplant between 4 and 20 years. Three main themes emerged from the data including (1) comprehending the experience, (2) acknowledging the meaningfulness of the experience and (3) managing threats to a new life after the transplant. The experiences of post-haematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors were initially difficult but they were able to make re-adjustments to their new life by reconciling with their new identity, refocusing on meaningful activities, strengthening their resilience and navigating the healthcare system. CONCLUSION: In spite of the difficulties faced by the survivors, they were able to face the challenges and made adjustment in a positive light by focusing on the valuable aspects of their experiences. Health care practitioners need to continually support them throughout their survivorship journey no matter how long it takes. Any long-term follow-up unit is a step in the right direction to meet the complex needs of the survivors by integrating and adapting clinical guidelines into routine oncologic and transplant care so that survivors are not lost in transition following treatment.

Acoustofluidic Salivary Exosome Isolation: A Liquid Biopsy Compatible Approach for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer Detection.

Previous efforts to evaluate the detection of human papilloma viral (HPV) DNA in whole saliva as a diagnostic measure for HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC) have not shown sufficient clinical performance. We hypothesize that salivary exosomes are packaged with HPV-associated biomarkers, and efficient enrichment of salivary exosomes through isolation can enhance diagnostic and prognostic performance for HPV-OPC. In this study, an acoustofluidic (the fusion of acoustics and microfluidics) platform was developed to perform size-based isolation of salivary exosomes. These data showed that this platform is capable of consistently isolating exosomes from saliva samples, regardless of viscosity variation and collection method. Compared with the current gold standard, differential centrifugation, droplet digital RT-PCR analysis showed that the average yield of salivary exosomal small RNA from the acoustofluidic platform is 15 times higher. With this high-yield exosome isolation platform, we show that HPV16 DNA could be detected in isolated exosomes from the saliva of HPV-associated OPC patients at 80% concordance with tissues/biopsies positive for HPV16. Overall, these data demonstrated that the acoustofluidic platform can achieve high-purity and high-yield salivary exosome isolation for downstream salivary exosome-based liquid biopsy applications. Additionally, HPV16 DNA sequences in HPV-OPC patients are packaged in salivary exosomes and their isolation will enhance the detection of HPV16 DNA.