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Genetic research

Circulating Tumor DNA and Response to Cisplatin-based Chemotherapy in Patients with Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma

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— 1 min read

Researchers at the University of Rochester have published a new report on the relationship between circulating tumor DNA and response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma. The study analyzed plasma cell-free DNA from a cohort of patients enrolled in the CALGB 90601 (Alliance) trial, a first-line treatment trial of gemcitabine/cisplatin with bevacizumab or placebo in metastatic urothelial cancer. The study found that higher variant allele frequency in circulating tumor DNA was associated with shorter overall survival and progression-free survival. Additionally, alterations in specific cancer genes, including TERT, PIK3CA, and ERBB2, were also associated with poor prognosis.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed plasma cell-free DNA from 201 patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma enrolled in the CALGB 90601 (Alliance) trial.
  • Higher variant allele frequency in circulating tumor DNA was associated with shorter overall survival (HR 2.51, 95% CI 1.26-5.00; p = 0.009) and progression-free survival (HR 2.18, 95% CI 1.02-4.67; p = 0.045).
  • Alterations in specific cancer genes, including TERT (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.15-2.19; p = 0.005), PIK3CA (HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.20-3.04; p = 0.006), and ERBB2 (HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.08-2.49; p = 0.019), were also associated with poor prognosis.
  • The study suggests that circulating tumor DNA could be a useful biomarker for predicting response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma.
  • The trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT00942331.

Statistics:

  • 201 patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma were enrolled in the study.
  • 12% of patients had a response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in the DDR+ group, compared to 41% in the DDR- group (p = 0.4).
  • The study had a 95% confidence interval of 0.50-1.22 for overall survival and 0.48-1.22 for progression-free survival.

Sources:

  • Circulating Tumor DNA and Response to Cisplatin-based Chemotherapy in Patients with Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma Enrolled in CALGB 90601 (Alliance). European Urology Open Science, 2025,75():80-88. (Elsevier)
  • NewsRx. Reports from University of Rochester Highlight Recent Research in Urothelial Cancer [Circulating Tumor DNA and Response to Cisplatin-based Chemotherapy in Patients with Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma Enrolled in CALGB 90601 (Alliance)]. Health & Medicine Week. May 16, 2025; p 4975.

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