Droplet digital PCR of tumor suppressor gene methylation in serial oral rinses of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

• Published in: Head & neck Vol. 43; no. 6; pp. 1812 - 1822
• Main Authors: Fung, Sherwood Y. H., Chan, Kwan Chee Allen, Wong, Eddy W. Y., Ng, Cherrie W. K., Cho, Ryan, Yeung, Zenon W. C., Lam, Jacky W. K., Chan, Jason Y. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.06.2021; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: DNA methylation; droplet digital PCR; Head & neck cancer; head and neck cancer; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; liquid biopsy; methylation; Original; Pax5 protein; Squamous cell carcinoma; Surgery; Tumor suppressor genes; head and neck cancer; droplet digital PCR; methylation; liquid biopsy; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• ISSN: 1043-3074; 1097-0347; 1097-0347
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.26647

Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) currently lacks sensitive approaches to detect cancer‐related traits in body fluid. Methods Methylation of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) (PAX5, EDNRB, and DCC) were measured in the oral rinses from 50 HNSCC and 58 control subjects using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Diagnostic accuracies in detecting HNSCC and the detection rate of recurrence in the post‐treatment monitoring were analyzed. Results ddPCR TSG methylation detection in oral rinses for diagnosis of HNSCC had an AUC of 0.892 for PAX5, 0.753 for EDNRB, and 0.729 for DCC. Significant drop of TSG methylation was observed after completion of surgery (p < 0.01). 76.9% of the relapse cases had a pre‐emptive rebound of methylation above presurgery levels in at least one of the tested markers before confirmed recurrence. Conclusions Utilizing ddPCR for TSG methylation detection in oral rinses shows potential for detection and monitoring of HNSCC.