Decline in circulating viral and human tumor markers after resection of head and neck carcinoma

Background DNA sequencing panels can simultaneously quantify human and viral tumor markers in blood. We explored changes in levels of plasma tumor markers following surgical resection of head and neck carcinoma. Methods In preresection and postresection plasmas, targeted DNA sequencing quantified va...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Head & neck 2021-01, Vol.43 (1), p.27-34
Main Authors: Lopez, Erin M., Tanner, April Michelle, Du, Eugenie, Patel, Samip N., Weiss, Jared, Weissler, Mark C., Hackman, Trevor, Gupta, Gaorav P., Zevallos, Jose, Elmore, Sandra, Betancourt, Renee, Thorne, Leigh, Sheth, Siddharth, Gulley, Margaret L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomarkers
carcinoma
cell‐free DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
DNA sequencing
Epstein-Barr virus
Genomes
Head & neck cancer
Human papillomavirus
p53 Protein
Squamous cell carcinoma
Tumor markers
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Summary:Background DNA sequencing panels can simultaneously quantify human and viral tumor markers in blood. We explored changes in levels of plasma tumor markers following surgical resection of head and neck carcinoma. Methods In preresection and postresection plasmas, targeted DNA sequencing quantified variants in 28 human cancer genes and levels of oncogenic pathogens (human papillomavirus [HPV], Epstein‐Barr virus [EBV], Helicobacter pylori) from 21 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Results Preresection, 11 of 21 patients (52%) had detectable tumor markers in plasma, most commonly TP53 mutation or HPV genome. Several days postresection, levels fell to undetectable in 8 of 10 evaluable patients, while two high‐stage patients retained circulating tumor markers. Conclusions Modern sequencing technology can simultaneously quantify human gene variants and oncogenic viral genomes in plasma. Falling levels of cancer‐specific markers upon resection can help identify viral and human markers to track at subsequent timepoints as a means to evaluate efficacy of interventions.
ISSN:1043-3074
1097-0347
DOI:10.1002/hed.26444