Circulating Plasma Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) as a Predictive Biomarker for Radiotherapy: Results from a Prospective Trial in Head and Neck Cancer

Michael I Koukourakis; Erasmia Xanthopoulou; Ioannis M Koukourakis; Sotirios P Fortis; Nikolaos Kesesidis; Ioannis Karakasiliotis; Constantin N Baxevanis

doi:10.21873/cdp.10254

Circulating Plasma Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) as a Predictive Biomarker for Radiotherapy: Results from a Prospective Trial in Head and Neck Cancer

Cancer Diagn Progn. 2023 Sep 3;3(5):551-557. doi: 10.21873/cdp.10254. eCollection 2023 Sep-Oct.

Authors

Michael I Koukourakis¹, Erasmia Xanthopoulou¹, Ioannis M Koukourakis², Sotirios P Fortis³, Nikolaos Kesesidis⁴, Ioannis Karakasiliotis⁴, Constantin N Baxevanis³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiotherapy - Oncology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
² Radiation Oncology Unit, 1st Department of Radiology, Aretaieion University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
³ Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece.
⁴ Laboratory of Biology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.

Abstract

Background/aim: The plasma levels of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in cancer patients increase due to rapid cancer cell proliferation and death. Therefore, cfDNA can be used to study specific tumor-DNA features. In addition, the non-specific cfDNA concentration may be an important biomarker of cancer prognosis.

Patients and methods: We prospectively examined the predictive role of cfDNA levels and the kinetics in the outcome of chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) in a cohort of 47 patients with locally advanced squamous cell head-neck cancer (SCHNC) treated with definitive chemo-radiotherapy.

Results: Increased cfDNA levels after therapy completion (after/before treatment ratio; A/B-ratio >1) were found in 26/47 patients (55.3%). Locally advanced T4-stage was significantly associated with higher cfDNA levels after CRT (3.3 ng/μl in T4-stage vs. 1.3 ng/μl in T1-3 stages, p=0.007). Patients who responded to CRT (partial/complete response) had significantly lower cfDNA levels before therapy (mean values 1.2 ng/μl vs. 2.7 ng/μl, p=0.03). A significantly worse locoregional progression-free survival in patients with an A/B-ratio >1 was documented (p=0.01; hazard ratio 3.5, 95%CI=1.2-9.7). This was also confirmed in multivariate analysis, where the A/B-ratio was an independent predictive variable of locoregional relapse (p=0.03, hazard ratio 3.9, 95%CI=1.2-13).

Conclusion: High post-CRT cfDNA levels could be an early biomarker for the immediate recruitment of patients with SCHNC in consolidation chemo-immunotherapy protocols.

Keywords: Cell-free DNA; head neck cancer; prognosis; radiotherapy.