Detection and localization of early- and late-stage cancers using platelet RNA

In't Veld, S.G.J.G.; Arkani, M.; Post, E.; Antunes-Ferreira, M.; D'Ambrosi, S.; Vessies, D.C.L.; ... ; Wurdinger, T. (2022)

Article / Letter to editor

Cancer patients benefit from early tumor detection since treatment outcomes are more favorable for less advanced cancers. Platelets are involved in cancer progression and are considered a promising biosource for cancer detection, as they alter their RNA content upon local and systemic cues. We show that tumor-educated platelet (TEP) RNA-based blood tests enable the detection of 18 cancer types. With 99% specificity in asymptomatic controls, thromboSeq correctly detected the presence of cancer in two-thirds of 1,096 blood samples from stage I-IV cancer patients and in half of 352 stage I-III tumors. Symptomatic controls, including inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, and benign tumors had increased false-positive test results with an average specificity of 78%. Moreover, thromboSeq determined the tumor site of origin in five different tumor types correctly in over 80% of the cancer patients. These results highlight the potential properties of TEP-derived RNA panels to supplement current approaches for blood-based cancer screening.

• All authors: In't Veld, S.G.J.G.; Arkani, M.; Post, E.; Antunes-Ferreira, M.; D'Ambrosi, S.; Vessies, D.C.L.; Vermunt, L.; Vancura, A.; Muller, M.; Niemeijer, A.L.N.; Tannous, J.; Meijer, L.L.; Large, T.Y.S. le; Mantini, G.; Wondergem, N.E.; Heinhuis, K.M.; Wilpe, S. van; Smits, A.J.; Drees, E.E.E.; Roos, E.; Leurs, C.E.; Fat, L.A.T.K.; Lelij, E.J. van der; Dwarshuis, G.; Kamphuis, M.J.; Visser, L.E.; Harting, R.; Gregory, A.; Schweiger, M.W.; Wedekind, L.E.; Ramaker, J.; Zwaan, K.; Verschueren, H.; Bahce, I.; Langen, A.J. de; Smit, E.F.; Heuvel, M.M. van den; Hartemink, K.J.; Kuijpers, M.J.E.; Egbrink, M.G.A.O.; Griffioen, A.W.; Rossel, R.; Hiltermann, T.J.N.; Lee-Lewandrowski, E.; Lewandrowski, K.B.; Hamer, P.C.D.; Kouwenhoven, M.; Reijneveld, J.C.; Leenders, W.P.J.; Hoeben, A.; Verdonck-De Leeuw, I.M.; Leemans, C.R.; Jong, R.J.B. de; Terhaard, C.H.J.; Takes, R.P.; Langendijk, J.A.; Jager, S.C. de; Kraaijeveld, A.O.; Pasterkamp, G.; Smits, M.; Schalken, J.A.; Lapinska-Szumczyk, S.; Lojkowska, A.; Zaczek, A.J.; Lokhorst, H.; Donk, N.W.C.J. van de; Nijhof, I.; Prins, H.J.; Zijlstra, J.M.; Idema, S.; Baayen, J.C.; Teunissen, C.E.; Killestein, J.; Besselink, M.G.; Brammen, L.; Bachleitner-Hofmann, T.; Mateen, F.; Plukker, J.T.M.; Heger, M.; Mast, Q. de; Lisman, T.; Pegtel, D.M.; Bogaard, H.J.; Jassem, J.; Supernat, A.; Mehra, N.; Gerritsen, W.; Kroon, C.D. de; Lok, C.A.R.; Piek, J.M.J.; Steeghs, N.; Houdt, W.J. van; Brakenhoff, R.H.; Sonke, G.S.; Verheul, H.M.; Giovannetti, E.; Kazemier, G.; Sabrkhany, S.; Schuuring, E.; Sistermans, E.A.; Wolthuis, R.; Meijers-Heijboer, H.; Dorsman, J.; Oudejans, C.; Ylstra, B.; Westerman, B.A.; Broek, D. van den; Koppers-Lalic, D.; Wesseling, P.; Nilsson, R.J.A.; Vandertop, W.P.; Noske, D.P.; Tannous, B.A.; Sol, N.; Best, M.G.; Wurdinger, T.
• Date: 2022-09-12
• Journal: Cancer Cell
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 999 - 1009.e6
• DOI: doi:10.1016/j.ccell.2022.08.006