Highly Sensitive Droplet Digital PCR Method for Detection of EGFR-Activating Mutations in Lung Cancer Patients

Researchers at AstraZeneca have developed a highly sensitive and specific droplet digital PCR method for detecting EGFR-activating mutations in plasma cell-free DNA from patients with non-small cell lung cancer. This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize clinical blood testing for lung cancer diagnosis. According to the study, the new method has a sensitivity of 81.82% and a specificity of 98.44% compared to traditional tissue testing methods.

Key Takeaways:

• The researchers developed a highly sensitive and specific droplet digital PCR method for detecting EGFR-activating mutations in plasma cell-free DNA.
• The method has a sensitivity of 81.82% and a specificity of 98.44% compared to traditional tissue testing methods.
• The study used 86 EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor-naive lung cancer patients, and the results showed a 94.19% concordance rate between the plasma and tissue testing methods.
• The researchers used a droplet digital PCR assay to detect exon19 deletions and L858R mutations in the EGFR gene.
• The study suggests that the new method has potential in clinical blood testing for lung cancer diagnosis.
• The research was conducted by AstraZeneca R&D, Global Med Dev, Chester, Cheshire, United Kingdom.

Statistics:

• 81.82% sensitivity in detecting EGFR-activating mutations in plasma cell-free DNA.
• 98.44% specificity in detecting EGFR-activating mutations in plasma cell-free DNA.
• 94.19% concordance rate between plasma and tissue testing methods.
• 0.04% sensitivity in detecting EGFR mutation-positive cell DNA.
• 86 patients participated in the study.

Sources:

• "Highly Sensitive Droplet Digital PCR Method for Detection of EGFR-Activating Mutations in Plasma Cell-Free DNA from Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer." Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, 2015;17(3):265-272.
• AstraZeneca, R&D, Global Med Dev, Chester, Cheshire, United Kingdom.