Distinct Features of Plasma Ultrashort Single-Stranded Cell-Free DNA as Biomarkers for Lung Cancer Detection

Using broad range cell-free DNA sequencing (BRcfDNA-Seq), a nontargeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) methodology, we previously identified a novel class of approximately 50 nt ultrashort single-stranded cell-free DNA (uscfDNA) in plasma that is distinctly different from 167 bp mononucleosomal cell-free DNA (mncfDNA). We hypothesize that uscfDNA possesses characteristics that are useful for disease detection.

Using BRcfDNA-Seq, we examined both cfDNA populations in the plasma of 18 noncancer controls and 14 patients with late-stage nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). In comparison to mncfDNA, we assessed whether functional element (FE) peaks, fragmentomics, end-motifs, and G-Quadruplex (G-Quad) signatures could be useful features of uscfDNA for NSCLC determination.

In noncancer participants, compared to mncfDNA, uscfDNA fragments showed a 45.2-fold increased tendency to form FE peaks (enriched in promoter, intronic, and exonic regions), demonstrated a distinct end-motif-frequency profile, and presented with a 4.9-fold increase in G-Quad signatures. Within NSCLC participants, only the uscfDNA population had discoverable FE peak candidates. Additionally, uscfDNA showcased different end-motif-frequency candidates distinct from mncfDNA. Although both cfDNA populations showed increased fragmentation in NSCLC, the G-Quad signatures were more discriminatory in uscfDNA. Compilation of cfDNA features using principal component analysis revealed that the first 5 principal components of both cfDNA subtypes had a cumulative explained variance of >80%.

These observations indicate that the distinct biological processes of uscfDNA and that FE peaks, fragmentomics, end-motifs, and G-Quad signatures are uscfDNA features with promising biomarker potential. These findings further justify its exploration as a distinct class of biomarker to augment pre-existing liquid biopsy approaches.