Abstract:
Objective To explore the application of pyrophosphorolysis-activated polymerization (PAP) to monitor plasma cfDNA in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods A total of 85 patients diagnosed with advanced NSCLC between March 2016 and June 2017 were enrolled in the present study. EGFR mutations in cfDNA extracted from the plasma were detected using PAP and ARMS-PCR technology. The concordance analysis of EGFR mutations involved plasma vs. tumor tissue and PAP vs. ARMS-PCR. Furthermore, 38 EGFR-positive patients were selected to monitor EGFR mutations with PAP.
Results No statistical differences in EGFR mutations were observed between plasma and tumor tissue (P=0.092), as well as PAP and ARMS-PCR (P=0.210). The detection rate of EGFR mutations in cfDNA was higher in the progressor than in the non-progressor (62.5% vs. 21.3%, P < 0.001).
Conclusions PAP can be used for detecting and monitoring EGFR mutations in cfDNA to predict disease progression.