Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
Wild-type Blocking PCR Combined with Direct Sequencing as a Highly Sensitive Method for Detection of Low-Frequency Somatic Mutations
Published on: March 29, 2017
High-performance detection of somatic D-loop mutation in urothelial cell carcinoma patients by polymorphism ratio
David P Duberow1,2, Mariana Brait3, Mohammad O Hoque3
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, 307 Lewis Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
Unlabelled:
Utilizing a polymorphism ratio sequencing platform, we performed a complete somatic mutation analysis of the mitochondrial D-loop region in 14 urothelial cell carcinomas. A total of 28 somatic mutations, all heteroplasmic, were detected in 8 of 14 individuals (57.1 %). Insertion/deletion changes in unstable mono- and dinucleotide repeat segments comprise the most pervasive class of mutations (9 of 28), while two recurring single-base substitution loci were identified. Seven variants, mostly insertion/deletions, represent population shifts from a heteroplasmic germline toward dominance in the tumor. In four cases, DNA from matched urine samples was similarly analyzed, with all somatic variants present in associated tumors readily detectable in the bodily fluid. Consistent with previous findings, mutant populations in urine were similar to those detected in tumor and in three of four cases were more prominent in urine.
Key Messages:
PRS accurately detects high mtDNA mutations in UCCs and their body fluids. mtDNA mutations are universally heteroplasmic and often appear at low levels. The PRS technology could be a viable approach to develop mitochondrial biomarkers.
