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Size and Concentration of Cell-Free DNA Measured Directly from Blood Plasma, without Prior DNA Extraction
Audrey Boutonnet1, Anne Pradines2,3, Marion Mano1
1R&D Department, ADELIS, 31 670 Labège, France.
Analytical Chemistry
|June 6, 2023
Summary
A new method measures cell-free DNA (cfDNA) concentration and size in plasma without extraction. This technique differentiates lung cancer patients from healthy individuals, showing potential for monitoring and therapy efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Biomarker Discovery
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in plasma is a crucial biomarker for various physiological and pathological states.
- cfDNA concentration and size distribution offer potential as independent biomarkers for patient monitoring and therapy assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple, in-line method for measuring cfDNA concentration and size distribution directly from plasma.
- To evaluate the analytical performance and clinical utility of this novel cfDNA analysis technique.
Main Methods:
- A dual hydrodynamic and electrokinetic actuation method was employed for direct cfDNA analysis in biological fluids.
- The method analyzes cfDNA concentration and size distribution from microliters of plasma without prior DNA extraction or concentration.
Main Results:
- The developed method achieves analytical performance comparable to traditional purification and concentration techniques.
- Precise measurements of cfDNA size distribution (∼1% precision) and concentration (10-20% precision) were obtained.
- Plasma cfDNA concentration and size profiles successfully differentiated advanced lung cancer patients from healthy controls.
Conclusions:
- The described simple and cost-effective method enables direct analysis of cfDNA concentration and size distribution from plasma.
- This approach facilitates further research into the clinical applications of cfDNA size profiling for disease monitoring and treatment evaluation.
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