Email this article Evaluation of ctDNA during primary treatment of patients with triple-negative breast cancer: scientific novelty and clinical prospects. Case report
- Authors: Zavarykina T.M.1,2, Mazina P.S.1,2, Pronina I.V.1,2, Rozonova O.A.3, Moskovtsev A.A.3,4, Zaichenko D.M.4, Khodyrev D.S.1,2, Stenina M.B.3, Kolyadina I.V.2,5, Khokhlova S.V.2,5, Artamonova E.V.3,6,7
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Affiliations:
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences
- Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology
- Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology
- Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (Pirogov University)
- Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute
- Issue: Vol 27, No 4 (2025)
- Pages: 326-330
- Section: Articles
- URL: https://journal-vniispk.ru/1815-1434/article/view/382548
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.26442/18151434.2025.4.203515
- ID: 382548
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Full Text
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most unfavorable subtype of breast cancer. Achieving pathological complete responce (pCR) is an important prognostic factor in patients diagnosed with TNBC, as it is associated with increased overall and disease-free survival. Currently, clinical parameters and pathological examination of resection tissue after surgery are used to evaluate the effectiveness of neoadjuvant drug chemotherapy (NAC). Traditional clinical and instrumental methods used in routine practice (examination, palpation, ultrasound of the mammary glands and regional areas, mammography, and MRI of the mammary glands) often do not allow for an accurate assessment of the treatment effect. The rate of detection of complete responses may be lower with clinical and instrumental assessment of the effect compared to pathological examination. In this regard, there is growing interest in assessing the effect of NAC based on changes in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels in the blood, which is characterized by the presence of genetic alterations specific to tumor tissue, i.e., liquid biopsy. This study examines two clinical cases of TNBC, determining the dynamics of ctDNA level changes during treatment and comparing these results with the severity of pathological tumor responce after NAC. In one case, pathological complete responce was achieved, while in the second, significant residual tumor was detected. Mutations for tracking ctDNA level dynamics were selected based on bioinformatics analysis of whole-exome sequencing of tumor biopsy samples and patient’s blood. Plasma ctDNA levels were assessed using digital PCR (dPCR). We obtained quantitative results for ctDNA determination in the plasma of patients with TNBC at five points and compared the dynamics of ctDNA level changes with the results of NAC. The study discusses the possible relationship between the observed ctDNA dynamics and treatment response (achievement of complete pathological tumor regression) and the feasibility of using liquid biopsy in predicting tumor response to NAC.
About the authors
Tatiana M. Zavarykina
Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences; Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology
Author for correspondence.
Email: tpalievskaya@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5993-6351
SPIN-code: 7786-8686
Scopus Author ID: 8940219100
ResearcherId: JAC-8749-2023
Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology
Russian Federation, Moscow; MoscowPolina S. Mazina
Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences; Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology
Email: tpalievskaya@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0000-8367-2790
SPIN-code: 4706-6599
ResearcherId: ORJ-2080-2025
Senior Lab. Assist., Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Res. Officer, Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology
Russian Federation, Moscow; MoscowIrina V. Pronina
Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences; Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology
Email: tpalievskaya@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0423-7801
SPIN-code: 5706-2369
Scopus Author ID: 8161867200
ResearcherId: G-3951-2014
Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Res. Officer, Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology
Russian Federation, Moscow; MoscowOlga A. Rozonova
Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology
Email: tpalievskaya@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4980-0175
SPIN-code: 5332-6531
oncologist
Russian Federation, MoscowAlexey A. Moskovtsev
Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology; Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology
Email: tpalievskaya@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5648-824X
Cand. Sci. (Med.), Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology
Russian Federation, Moscow; MoscowDanila M. Zaichenko
Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology
Email: tpalievskaya@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0241-0065
SPIN-code: 3667-5888
Scopus Author ID: 57200013147
Res. Assist
Russian Federation, MoscowDmitry S. Khodyrev
Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences; Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology
Email: tpalievskaya@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6518-8305
SPIN-code: 4292-7072
Scopus Author ID: 25623686600
Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Res. Officer, Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology
Russian Federation, Moscow; MoscowMarina B. Stenina
Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology
Email: tpalievskaya@yandex.ru
SPIN-code: 4722-1219
D. Sci. (Med.), Prof.
Russian Federation, MoscowIrina V. Kolyadina
Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology; Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education
Email: tpalievskaya@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1124-6802
SPIN-code: 2297-4122
Scopus Author ID: 55561305100
ResearcherId: P-9666-2015
D. Sci. (Med.), Prof., Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education
Russian Federation, Moscow; MoscowSvetlana V. Khokhlova
Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology; Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education
Email: tpalievskaya@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4597-172X
SPIN-code: 6009-4616
D. Sci. (Med.), Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education
Russian Federation, Moscow; MoscowElena V. Artamonova
Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology; Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (Pirogov University); Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute
Email: tpalievskaya@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7728-9533
SPIN-code: 2483-6309
Scopus Author ID: 6603662138
D. Sci. (Med.), Prof., Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (Pirogov University), Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute
Russian Federation, Moscow; Moscow; MoscowReferences
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