Liquid Biopsy: Examination of platelet RNA obtained from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients for molecular tumor markers

Introduction Liquid biopsy offers a way identifying cancer by examination of body fluids. The present study deals with the analyses of tumor-educated platelets, a recently discovered novel option of liquid biopsy. Previous research identified a tumor cell – platelet interaction in different tumor entities, resulting in a transfer of tumor derived RNA into platelets, named further “tumor-educated platelets”.

Material and Methods Sequencing analysis of RNA derived from platelets of tumor patients and healthy donors were performed. Subsequently, quantitative RT-PCR was used for verification of differentially expressed genes in platelets from tumor patients and healthy donors in a second cohort of patients and healthy volunteers.

Results RNAseq data revealed significantly differentially expressed RNA encoding 618 genes. Among them, we identified RNA coding for 49 genes characteristically expressed in epithelial cells. Additionally, in tumor patient’s platelets we observed RNA coding for genes involved in tumor progression by contributing to proliferation, metastasis or angiogenesis. Results were verified by quantitative RT-PCR on platelet RNA derived from a second tumor patient / healthy donor cohort.

Conclusion Our results indicate a transfer of tumor mRNA into platelets of HNSCC patients. Therefore, analyses of patient’s platelet RNA could be an efficient option of liquid biopsy in order to diagnose HNSCC or to monitor the therapeutic response. However, in order to identify a predictive marker signature allowing the identification of HNSCC based on platelet RNAseq further research is necessary.

Poster-PDF A-1714.pdf

Conflict of interest

Der Erstautor gibt keinen Interessenskonflikt an.

Publication History

Article published online:
13 May 2021