Abstract

Circulating DNA as a Next Generation Diagnostic Tool

Alain Thierry, Research Director, INSERM

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) holds promises in tumor burden monitoring or malignancies early detection. Based on crucial observation on the structure and origin of ctDNA we developed a multiparametric method for specifically analyze ctDNA. This technology enables the first clinical validation of the analysis of circulating DNA in oncology, in a prospective blinded multicentric study for the detection of KRAS and BRAF mutations from colorectal patient plasma samples. Aims of our research are now focusing on various aspects of the potential of ctDNA: (i), detecting the emergence of the mutations following targeted therapy; (ii), developing the Intplex test for the multimarker quantitative analysis of ctDNA; (iii), studying the follow up of CRC patients; (iv), the prognostic power of ctDNA and (v) the screening power of ctDNA.