Developmental Research Pilot Project

Jason Bielas, PhD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

"Novel ultra sensitive DNA-based cancer prostate biomarkers"

Abstract

The mitochondrial genome offers excellent potential as a DNA-based biomarker for cancer detection, as most tumors are composed of cells that each share thousands of identical somatic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) point mutations, a phenomenon called homoplasmy. We have recently established a novel mutation detection method called the random mutation capture (RMC) assay that will allow one to monitor the prevalence of tumor-associated mtDNA mutations, and consequently circulating tumor cells (CTCs), with unprecedented sensitivity. Here we propose the use of the RMC assay to test whether the frequency of circulating homoplasmic mtDNA tumor mutations in patients with prostate cancer would be a specific and sensitive marker of prostatic tumor therapeutic response, progression, and recurrence. Prostate cancer presents an ideal tumor model to test this new technology, as the frequency of prostate gland biopsy, homoplasmic mtDNA mutations, and recurrence following radical prostatectomy are high. Additionally, the frequency of CTCs can be correlated directly with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) serum level in blood samples.

	Previously Funded Projects
	Program Abstract
	Request for Applications (RFA)
	Publications