Assessment of genome mutation analysis for tumor-informed detection of circulating tumor DNA in patients with breast cancer

Clin Chim Acta. 2024 Jul 15:561:119818. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.119818. Epub 2024 Jun 13.

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer, one of the most aggressive types of cancer, poses significant challenges for diagnosis and treatment. Emerging as a promising biomarker, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can be used to identify and monitor disease risk. This study sought to examine the impact of mutations in various genes on the progression of breast cancer. Genetic variants associated with breast cancer have been examined in individuals diagnosed with the disease worldwide.

Methods: Fifty female participants underwent breast cancer testing. Sanger sequencing was used to analyze peripheral blood DNA from these individuals to detect disease-causing mutations in the BRCA1, BRCA2, PTEN, TP53, and ATM genes. Genetic alterations linked to breast cancer were screened and the findings were compared with those of tumor genes.

Results: The development of hereditary/early onset breast cancer in this study was significantly associated with mutations in ATM, PTEN, TP53, and BRCA1/BRCA2, according to the analysis of sequencing data.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the feasibility of analyzing ctDNA in patients with breast cancer (BC) undergoing palliative treatment using an SS-based technique.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Breast cancer genes; Circulating tumor DNA; Gene mutations; Liquid biopsy; PCR; Sanger sequencing.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins / genetics
  • BRCA1 Protein / genetics
  • BRCA2 Protein / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms* / blood
  • Breast Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Breast Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Circulating Tumor DNA* / blood
  • Circulating Tumor DNA* / genetics
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation*
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics

Substances

  • Circulating Tumor DNA
  • BRCA1 Protein
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • BRCA2 Protein
  • ATM protein, human