advanced-biotechnology-annual-pediatrics-2018-posters

Page 40

Volume 10

Journal of Archives of Medicine

Advanced Biotechnology & Annual Pediatrics 2018

November 28-29, 2018

Novel Trends and Advances in Biotechnology,

Cell & Stem Cell Research

Annual Congress on Pediatrics

World Congress on

November 28-29, 2018 Barcelona, Spain

Joint Event On

Liquid biopsy: Innovative and non-invasive technique for the study of ALK gene rearrangements

Ana Martínez Rodríguez and Atocha Romero Alfonso

Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Spain

Statement of the Problem:

Lung cancer is the one with the highest mortality rate in the world. There are two main types:

Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma (SCLC) and Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC). The discovery of Tyrosin Kinase

Inhibitors (TKI) that target Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements have achieved a huge success in the

management of patients with ALK-positive NSCLC. Although a great advance in the treatment of these patients has been

achieved, the initial diagnosis remains a challenge since it is confirmed by a tissue biopsy, which requires an invasive procedure.

Liquid biopsy testing is a new, non-invasive technique, suitable to identify NSCLC patients that can benefit from ALK-targeted

therapies. The objective of the study is to focus on liquid biopsy using a specific blood component, known as Tumor-Educated

Blood Platelets (TEPs) and how they may assist in ALK gene rearrangements detection.

Methodology:

Firstly, different methods for platelet RNA extraction were tested from blood of healthy donors. The chosen

method was used to extract the mutated RNA from the TEPs of patients with NSCLC. The RNA profile of both populations

was compared. Secondly, we determined the optimal digital PCR (dPCR) conditions to detect the presence of variant 3 of the

EML4-ALK fusion gene in a positive control (cell line H2228). Finally, we used dPCR to analyze EML4-ALK rearrangements

in TEPs from the blood of NSCLC patients.

Findings:

Platelets are a valuable source for the non-invasive detection of EML4-ALK rearrangements. The type of RNA

population present in platelets varies depending on the extraction method used. dPCR is a useful technique for the detection

and quantification of EML4-ALK rearrangements.

Conclusion:

In this study we present a standardized method to extract platelet RNA and detect EML4-ALK rearrangements

using dPCR, for which there was no previous data on yields or optimization conditions. This will mean an improvement in the

application of liquid biopsy as an alternative protocol in the search for biomarkers in patients with NSCLC.

Arch Med 2018, Volume 10

DOI: 10.21767/1989-5216-C2-006