Abstract 435: Cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detects somatic copy number loss in homologous recombination repair genes
Authors: Barbacioru Catalin , Raymond Victoria M. , Sikora Marcin , Helman Elena , Gnerre Sante , Fairclough Stephen , Chudova Darya , Lanman Richard B. , Talasaz AmirAli 
Published: August 2019

Background: In addition to BRCA1/2 germline and somatic inactivating mutations, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and biallellic somatic copy number loss are associated with BRCA1/2 loss of function. Patients with cancers harboring these somatic features may benefit from treatment with PARP inhibitors. ctDNA analysis has proven a viable alternative to tumor tissue genotyping, especially in tissue- or time-limited clinical scenarios. However, ctDNA assessment of LOH and biallelic copy number loss is challenging given that ctDNA is diluted by cell-free leukocytic DNA making it difficult to confidently call these genomic events. We developed a method to identify somatic biallelic copy number loss in ctDNA using targeted sequencing of cell-free (cfDNA) across a wide range of cancer types.

Methods: A novel statistical model was developed using coverage profiles and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) allelic frequencies estimated from plasma samples to determine the presence of LOH and biallellic copy number loss in BRCA1 or BRCA2. For each gene of interest, the model uses observed coverage and fragment size distribution, together with allele frequency of germline SNPs. The model was applied to plasma samples from 28,000 patients with advanced solid tumors sequenced using a 73-gene next generation sequencing ctDNA panel (Guardant360®, Guardant Health, Redwood City, CA).

Results: The model was analytically validated using in-silico simulations in order to assess both the limit of blank and limit of detection. This method shows 95% sensitivity in detecting LOH and bi-allellic copy number loss for samples with a maximum somatic variant allele frequency as low as 9%. Sensitivity is mainly driven by the panel size and the depth of coverage of the gene of interest. The model was then applied to the 28,199 patient cohort. BRCA1 and BRCA2 LOH was observed in 2.4% (134/5568) and 7.4% (415/5568) of classic homologous recombination deficient (HRD) cancers including breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreas. BRCA1 and BRCA2biallelic copy number loss was observed in 0.3% (19/5568) and 0.6% (31/5568) of this same group of HRD cancers.

Discussion: In this cohort of 5,568 patients with classic HRD associated cancers, somatic LOH and biallelic copy number loss was detected in BRCA1 in 2.7% of samples and in BRCA2 in 8.0% of samples, which is aligned with previously reported tissue prevalence. BRCA1/2 somatic LOH and biallelic copy number loss can accurately be detected in ctDNA utilizing likelihood-based scores based on coverage and germline SNPs allele frequencies. The ability to identify this therapeutically targetable genomic alteration through a non-invasive ctDNA assessment has significant clinical implications.

Citation Format: Catalin Barbacioru, Victoria M. Raymond, Marcin Sikora, Elena Helman, Sante Gnerre, Stephen Fairclough, Darya Chudova, Richard B. Lanman, AmirAli Talasaz. Cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detects somatic copy number loss in homologous recombination repair genes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 435.