Copied to clipboard!

Personalized ctDNA detection and genomic profiling in the NeoRHEA Study

In the management of early hormone receptor (HR)+, HER2-negative breast cancer, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection is an evolving yet promising diagnostic approach. We evaluated ctDNA detection using the personalized RaDaR assay in plasma samples from patients enrolled in the NeoRHEA clinical trial (NCT03065621), a single-arm, phase II study of neoadjuvant palbociclib and endocrine therapy administered over 4 months (four 28‑day cycles). Plasma samples were collected pre-treatment, after the first treatment cycle, prior to surgery, and one month post-surgery. At baseline, ctDNA positivity was detected in 55% of patients; however, this dropped to 5% during treatment and ctDNA became undetectable in all patients by one month post-surgery. CtDNA detection at baseline was higher in histological grade 3 tumors, lower in multifocal/multicentric tumors and higher in residual cancer burden (RCB) 3 tumors. Genomic analysis revealed MYC gene gains or amplifications were more frequent in ultrasound (US) responders, while PIK3CA gains were more common in US non-responders. Additionally, FAT1 losses were more frequently observed in patients with RCB 3. Our findings suggest that baseline ctDNA presence predicts poor response to neoadjuvant palbociclib and endocrine therapy, underscoring its potential as a biomarker to guide tailored therapeutic approaches in HR+/HER2-negative breast cancer.

Type: Exome Sequencing
Archive: European Genome-phenome Archive (EGA)

1 Dataset

Click on a Dataset ID in the table below to learn more, and to find out who to contact about access to these data

Dataset ID	Description	Technology	Samples
EGAD50000002446	The dataset comprises whole-exome sequencing (WES) data generated from 160 samples, corresponding to matched tumor–normal pairs from breast cancer patients. For each subject, one tumor biopsy sample and one matched white blood cell (WBC) sample (germline control) are included. Sequencing data are provided as aligned BAM files with corresponding BAI index files. The data were generated using Illumina paired-end sequencing technology following hybrid-capture exome enrichment. The matched tumor–normal design enables accurate identification of somatic variants by filtering germline alterations, supporting downstream analyses such as mutation profiling, biomarker discovery, and personalized circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) assay development.		160