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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Semiconductor Sequencing for Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy
Published on: August 25, 2019
Prenatal cfDNA Sequencing and Incidental Detection of Maternal Cancer
Amy E Turriff1, Christina M Annunziata1, Ashkan A Malayeri1
1From the Prenatal Genomics and Therapy Section, Center for Precision Health Research (A.E.T., D.W.B.), and the Section on Social Network Methods, Social and Behavioral Research Branch (J.L.), National Human Genome Research Institute, the Women's Malignancies Branch (C.M.A., I.S.G., P.S.R.) and the Cancer Data Science Laboratory (P.S.R.), Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center (A.A.M., B.R.), and the Office of the Director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (D.W.B.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, and Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick (M.P.) - both in Maryland.
Background:
Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) sequence analysis to screen for fetal aneuploidy can incidentally detect maternal cancer. Additional data are needed to identify DNA-sequencing patterns and other biomarkers that can identify pregnant persons who are most likely to have cancer and to determine the best approach for follow-up.
Methods:
In this ongoing study we performed cancer screening in pregnant or postpartum persons who did not perceive signs or symptoms of cancer but received unusual clinical cfDNA-sequencing results or results that were nonreportable (i.e., the fetal aneuploidy status could not be assessed) from one of 12 different commercial laboratories in North America. We used a uniform cancer-screening protocol including rapid whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), laboratory tests, and standardized cfDNA sequencing for research purposes with the use of a genomewide platform. The primary outcome was the presence of cancer in participants after the initial cancer-screening evaluation. Secondary analyses included test performance.
Results:
Cancer was present in 52 of the 107 participants in the initial cohort (48.6%). The sensitivity and specificity of whole-body MRI in detecting occult cancer were 98.0% and 88.5%, respectively. Physical examination and laboratory tests were of limited use in identifying participants with cancer. Research sequencing showed that 49 participants had a combination of copy-number gains and losses across multiple (≥3) chromosomes; cancer was present in 47 of the participants (95.9%) with this sequencing pattern. Sequencing patterns of cfDNA in which there were only chromosomal gains (multiple trisomies) or only chromosomal losses (one or more monosomies) were found in participants with nonmalignant conditions, such as fibroids.
Conclusions:
In this study, 48.6% of participants who received unusual or nonreportable clinical cfDNA-sequencing results had an occult cancer. Further study of DNA-sequencing patterns that are suggestive of occult cancer during prenatal screening is warranted. (Funded by the NIH Intramural Research Programs; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04049604.).
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