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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
Detection of a Circulating MicroRNA Custom Panel in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Published on: March 14, 2019
Circulating DNA as a Strong Multimarker Prognostic Tool for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patient Management Care.
Safia El Messaoudi1, Florent Mouliere1, Stanislas Du Manoir1
1IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Montpellier, France. INSERM, U1194, Montpellier, France. Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France. Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
Multiparametric analysis of circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients reveals its prognostic value. High ccfDNA levels and fragmentation are linked to shorter overall survival, establishing ccfDNA as an independent prognostic factor.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) offers a noninvasive window into the tumor genome via blood sampling.
- Analysis of ccfDNA is crucial for understanding tumor biology and patient prognosis in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a multiparametric analysis of ccfDNA in mCRC patients.
- To evaluate the prognostic value of ccfDNA parameters for overall survival (OS).
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous qualitative (KRAS, BRAF mutations) and quantitative (ccfDNA concentration, integrity) analysis using a Q-PCR multimarker approach.
- Investigated overall survival (OS) in 97 mCRC patients with a median follow-up of 36 months.
Main Results:
- High ccfDNA levels were significantly associated with shorter OS (18.07 vs. 28.5 months, P = 0.0087).
- Multivariate analysis identified high ccfDNA levels as an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.034).
- Increased mutant ccfDNA, higher mutation loads, and elevated ccfDNA fragmentation correlated with decreased OS, particularly in KRAS/BRAF-mutant patients.
Conclusions:
- Multiparametric ccfDNA analysis provides valuable qualitative and quantitative prognostic information in mCRC.
- ccfDNA parameters, including fragmentation, serve as independent prognostic factors for overall survival in mCRC.
