Microdroplet Digital PCR Detection and Quantitation of Biomarkers in Archived Tissue and Serial Plasma Samples in Patients with Lung Cancer

摘要

Introduction: There is much interest in the use of noninvasive biomarkers in the management of lung cancer, particularly with respect to early diagnosis and monitoring the response to intervention. Cellfree tumor DNA in patients with cancer has been shown to hold potential as a noninvasive biomarker, in which the response to treatment may be evaluated using a blood test only. Multiple technologies have been suggested as being appropriate to measure cell-free tumor DNA. Microdroplet digital polymerase chain reaction (mdPCR) has a number of attributes that suggest it may be a useful tool for detecting clinically relevant genetic events. It offers precise and accurate quantitation of mutant alleles, including rare variants.