Plasma DNA as a potential biomarker for breast cancer detection
Abstract: Breast cancer is a
major malignancy among Indonesian women. It is often diagnosed in the later
stages of cancer, which leads to poor prognosis and survival of the patients. This
study investigated plasma DNA concentration as a potential biomarker for breast
cancer. The benefit of using this detection is the cost-effectiveness and the
samples can be collected from patients using non-invasive methods. Plasma
samples were obtained from healthy controls (n=18) and cancer patients (n=22).
Each sample was split into two equal portions for DNA isolation using two
different methods for the NaI method and a commercially available kit (Qiagen/
QA) method. The DNA concentration was determined by using a GeneQuant
spectrophotometer (Pharmacia). The t-test was used for statistical analysis,
which was performed using the SPSS 17.0 software. Compared tothe commercial
method, extraction using NaI yielded higher DNA concentration, both from samples
of healthy controls and cancer patients (p=0,008 and p=0.000, respectively). Furthermore,
regardless of the isolation method used, the plasma DNA concentration was
higher in healthy controls than in cancer cases (p=0,032 and p=0.005, for NaI and
QA methods, respectively). In conclusion, isolation methods significantly
affect DNA concentrations. The plasma DNA concentration of healthy controls is
significantly higher than those of the cancer cases, suggesting that plasma DNA
concentration might be apotential biomarker for breast cancer detection with
less invasive sampling method than tissue biopsies.
Keywords: plasma DNA;
biomarker; detection; breast cancer; liquid biopsy
Author: Dewajani Purnomosari
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg160343
