RESUMO
Novel screening techniques for early detection of lung cancer are urgently needed. Profiling circulating tumor cell-free DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a promising tool for biopsy-free tumor genotyping. However, both the scarcity and short half-life of ctDNA substantially limit the sensitivity and clinical utility of ctDNA detection methodologies. Our discovery that red blood cells (RBCs) sequester mitochondrial DNA opens a new avenue for detecting circulating nucleic acids, as RBCs represent an unrecognized reservoir of circulating nucleic acid. Here, we show that RBCs acquire tumor DNA following coculture with lung cancer cell lines harboring Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. RBC-bound tumor DNA is detectable in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but not in healthy controls by qPCR. Our results collectively uncover a previously unrecognized yet easily accessible reservoir of tumor DNA, offering a promising foundation for future RBC-based tumor diagnostics.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We present a novel method for lung cancer detection by revealing RBCs as a reservoir for tumor DNA, overcoming the limitations of current circulating tumor ctDNA methodologies. By demonstrating that RBCs can capture tumor DNA, including critical mutations found in lung cancer, we provide a promising, biopsy-free avenue for early cancer diagnostics. This discovery opens up exciting possibilities for developing RBC-based diagnostic tools, significantly enhancing the sensitivity and clinical utility of noninvasive cancer detection.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas , DNA Tumoral Circulante , Eritrócitos , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/sangue , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/diagnóstico , Eritrócitos/metabolismo , DNA Tumoral Circulante/genética , DNA Tumoral Circulante/sangue , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/genética , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/sangue , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/patologia , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/diagnóstico , Mutação , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Receptores ErbB/genética , Receptores ErbB/metabolismo , DNA Mitocondrial/genética , DNA Mitocondrial/sangue , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas p21(ras)/genética , Masculino , Feminino , Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Biomarcadores Tumorais/sangue , DNA de Neoplasias/sangue , DNA de Neoplasias/genéticaRESUMO
Pesticides account for hundreds of millions of cases of acute poisoning worldwide each year, with organophosphates (OPs) being responsible for the majority of all pesticide-related deaths. OPs inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which leads to impairment of the central- and peripheral nervous system. Current standard of care (SOC) alleviates acute neurologic-, cardiovascular- and respiratory symptoms and reduces short term mortality. However, survivors often demonstrate significant neurologic sequelae. This highlights the critical need for further development of adjunctive therapies with novel targets. While the inhibition of AChE is thought to be the main mechanism of injury, mitochondrial dysfunction and resulting metabolic crisis may contribute to the overall toxicity of these agents. We hypothesized that the mitochondrially targeted succinate prodrug NV354 would support mitochondrial function and reduce brain injury during acute intoxication with the OP diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP). To this end, we developed a rat model of acute DFP intoxication and evaluated the efficacy of NV354 as adjunctive therapy to SOC treatment with atropine and pralidoxime. We demonstrate that NV354, in combination with atropine and pralidoxime therapy, significantly improved cerebral mitochondrial complex IV-linked respiration and reduced signs of brain injury in a rodent model of acute DFP exposure.
