Cell-free DNA as a prognostic marker in stage I non-small-cell lung cancer patients undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was related to clinical outcome in inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).

Materials and methods: Plasma cfDNA was assessed at baseline, before the last day and 45 days after the end of SBRT, in 22 NSCLC patients. Twenty-two healthy controls were also evaluated.

Results: Plasma cfDNA was higher in patients than in controls. An association with unfavourable disease-free survival was found for continuous baseline cfDNA increments (HR = 5.9, 95%CI: 1.7–19.8, p = 0.04).

Conclusion: Plasma cfDNA may be a promising prognostic biomarker in high-risk NSCLC patients.

• Biomarker
• cell-free DNA
• early stage
• lung cancer
• stereotactic body radiotherapy

Acknowledgements

We thank Mrs. Luigina Mei for editorial assistance in writing this manuscript. We thank the patients and their families, all clinicians and nurses who have cared for these patients, and all the laboratory staff.

Declaration of interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed. This study was supported in part by funding from “Ministero della Salute” (Grant No. 40H73).