Abstract PO2-13-11: High circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) concentration was associated with shorter progression free survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Yi Hanbaek , Kim Tae-Yong , Song Myung Geun , Kim Hwang-Phill , Kim Tae-You , Kim Jinyong , Lee Dae-Won , Lee Kyung-Hun , Im Seock-Ah 
Published: May 2024

Background: Metastatic breast cancer can be classified into different subtypes depending on hormone receptor (HR) and HER2 status. The subtype can change during tumor progression, and repeated biopsy is needed to deliver the most appropriate treatment every time a new lesion is found. It is not always possible to get a new biopsy from metastatic sites, and therefore liquid biopsy using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is suggested as an alternative method to replace conventional biopsy. Methods: We performed a prospective serial collection of 65 ctDNA samples from 17 patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) at Seoul National University Hospital from October 2020 to March 2022. We used IMBdx AlphaLiquid®100 method to detect the genetic changes and analyzed the correlation with clinical outcomes. Results: Median age was 45 (range 32 – 62). Fifteen patients (88.2%) were relapsed mBC and most of the patients (14/17: 82.4%) were HR-positive and HER2-negative. Most of the patients had their ctDNA examined at baseline and at the time of maximal response and/or at progression. Fifteen patients (88.2%) received systemic therapy including hormone therapy, anti-HER2 therapy, and cytotoxic chemotherapy. Eight patients (47.1%) were on the first-line treatment for mBC, and 7 patients (41.2%) were on the second or later lines for mBC at the time of baseline sampling. The concentration of ctDNA and the sum of mutated allelic frequency was calculated for each sample. The ctDNA concentration ranged from 0.71 to 1386.00 ng/mL, and the median value was 5.37 ng/mL. We dichotomized these samples into two groups, with ctDNA concentration either higher or lower than the median value. Then we analyzed progression free survival (PFS) of each group. Patients with higher ctDNA concentration showed shorter PFS (7 mo. vs. not reached, p&lt; 0.001). The sum of mutated allelic frequency ranged from 0.00% to 223.46% and the median value was 6.36%. Patients with higher mutated allelic frequency showed shorter PFS (6 mo. vs. 22 mo., p&lt; 0.001). In addition, the PFS was significantly worse in patients who had mutated PIK3CA (5 mo vs. 22 mo, p&lt; 0.001). The patients with mutated TP53 also showed shorter PFS (6 mo vs. 17 mo, p&lt; 0.001) in univariate analysis. High estrogen receptor positivity in immunohistochemistry was correlated with lower mutated allelic frequency in ctDNA (p=0.003) but had no impact on the concentration of ctDNA (p=0.165). The concentration of ctDNA differed by metastatic sites. Patients with metastases to bones (p=0.007), liver (p&lt; 0.001), soft tissue or lymph nodes (p=0.002) were more likely to have higher concentrations of ctDNA, while patients with brain metastases had significantly lower ctDNA concentration (p=0.006). When the sum of mutated allelic frequency of ctDNA and metastatic sites was analyzed, bone (p=0.001), liver (p&lt; 0.001), and soft tissue or lymph node (p&lt; 0.001) metastases had a positive correlation, while brain had negative correlation (p=0.017). Lung or pleural metastases had no significant correlation with ctDNA, neither concentration (p=0.271) nor mutated allelic frequency (p=0.965). Conclusion: Patients with mBC with higher concentrations of ctDNA or higher mutated allelic frequency of ctDNA at baseline showed significantly shorter PFS. PIK3CAmt and TP53mt detected by liquid biopsy could be used as a poor prognostic biomarkers for mBC patients.

Citation Format: Hanbaek Yi, Tae-Yong Kim, Myung Geun Song, Hwang-Phill Kim, Tae-You Kim, Jinyong Kim, Dae-Won Lee, Kyung-Hun Lee, Seock-Ah Im. High circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) concentration was associated with shorter progression free survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-13-11.