Detection and localization of early- and late-stage cancers using platelet RNA
Sjors G J G In 't Veld1, Mohammad Arkani2, Edward Post3
1Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Neurosurgery, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam and Liquid Biopsy Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Brain Tumor Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Neurochemistry Lab, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Abstract:
Cancer patients benefit from early tumor detection since treatment outcomes are more favorable for less advanced cancers. Platelets are involved in cancer progression and are considered a promising biosource for cancer detection, as they alter their RNA content upon local and systemic cues. We show that tumor-educated platelet (TEP) RNA-based blood tests enable the detection of 18 cancer types. With 99% specificity in asymptomatic controls, thromboSeq correctly detected the presence of cancer in two-thirds of 1,096 blood samples from stage I-IV cancer patients and in half of 352 stage I-III tumors. Symptomatic controls, including inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, and benign tumors had increased false-positive test results with an average specificity of 78%. Moreover, thromboSeq determined the tumor site of origin in five different tumor types correctly in over 80% of the cancer patients. These results highlight the potential properties of TEP-derived RNA panels to supplement current approaches for blood-based cancer screening.
