TY - JOUR
T1 - Aberrant methylation of cell-free circulating DNA in plasma predicts poor outcome in diffuse large B cell lymphoma
AU - Sommer Kristensen, Lasse
AU - Hansen, Jakob Werner
AU - Kristensen, Søren Sommer
AU - Tholstrup, Dorte
AU - Harsløf, Laurine Bente Schram
AU - Pedersen, Ole Birger
AU - De Nully Brown, Peter
AU - Grønbæk, Kirsten
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of aberrant DNA methylation of cell-free circulating DNA in plasma has not previously been evaluated in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The aim of this study was to investigate if aberrant promoter DNA methylation can be detected in plasma from DLBCL patients and to evaluate this as a prognostic marker. Furthermore, we wanted to follow possible changes in methylation levels during treatment. Seventy-four patients were enrolled in the study, of which 59 received rituximab and CHOP-like chemotherapy. Plasma samples were collected from all patients at the time of diagnosis and from 14 healthy individuals used as controls. In addition, plasma samples were collected during and after treatment for surviving patients. In total, 158 plasma samples were analyzed for DNA methylation in the promoter regions of DAPK (DAPK1), DBC1, MIR34A, and MIR34B/C using pyrosequencing.RESULTS: Aberrant methylation levels at the time of diagnosis were detected in 19, 16, 8, and 10 % of the DLBCL plasma samples for DAPK1, DBC1, MIR34A, and MIR34B/C, respectively. DAPK1 methylation levels were significantly correlated with DBC1 and MIR34B/C methylation levels (P < 0.001). For the entire cohort, 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were significantly lower in the groups carrying aberrant DAPK1 (P = 0.004) and DBC1 (P = 0.044) methylation, respectively. DAPK1 methylation status were significantly correlated with stage (P = 0.015), as all patients with aberrant DAPK1 methylation were stages III and IV. Multivariate analysis identified DAPK1 as an independent prognostic factor for OS with a hazard ratio of 8.9 (95 % CI 2.7-29.3, P < 0.0007). Patients with DAPK1 methylated cell-free circulating DNA at time of diagnosis, who became long-term survivors, lost the aberrant methylation after treatment initiation. Conversely, patients that maintained or regained aberrant DAPK1 methylation died soon thereafter.CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant promoter methylation of cell-free circulating DNA can be detected in plasma from DLBCL patients and hold promise as an easily accessible marker for evaluating response to treatment and for prognostication. In particular, aberrant DAPK1 methylation in plasma was an independent prognostic marker that may also be used to assess treatment response.
AB - BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of aberrant DNA methylation of cell-free circulating DNA in plasma has not previously been evaluated in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The aim of this study was to investigate if aberrant promoter DNA methylation can be detected in plasma from DLBCL patients and to evaluate this as a prognostic marker. Furthermore, we wanted to follow possible changes in methylation levels during treatment. Seventy-four patients were enrolled in the study, of which 59 received rituximab and CHOP-like chemotherapy. Plasma samples were collected from all patients at the time of diagnosis and from 14 healthy individuals used as controls. In addition, plasma samples were collected during and after treatment for surviving patients. In total, 158 plasma samples were analyzed for DNA methylation in the promoter regions of DAPK (DAPK1), DBC1, MIR34A, and MIR34B/C using pyrosequencing.RESULTS: Aberrant methylation levels at the time of diagnosis were detected in 19, 16, 8, and 10 % of the DLBCL plasma samples for DAPK1, DBC1, MIR34A, and MIR34B/C, respectively. DAPK1 methylation levels were significantly correlated with DBC1 and MIR34B/C methylation levels (P < 0.001). For the entire cohort, 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were significantly lower in the groups carrying aberrant DAPK1 (P = 0.004) and DBC1 (P = 0.044) methylation, respectively. DAPK1 methylation status were significantly correlated with stage (P = 0.015), as all patients with aberrant DAPK1 methylation were stages III and IV. Multivariate analysis identified DAPK1 as an independent prognostic factor for OS with a hazard ratio of 8.9 (95 % CI 2.7-29.3, P < 0.0007). Patients with DAPK1 methylated cell-free circulating DNA at time of diagnosis, who became long-term survivors, lost the aberrant methylation after treatment initiation. Conversely, patients that maintained or regained aberrant DAPK1 methylation died soon thereafter.CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant promoter methylation of cell-free circulating DNA can be detected in plasma from DLBCL patients and hold promise as an easily accessible marker for evaluating response to treatment and for prognostication. In particular, aberrant DAPK1 methylation in plasma was an independent prognostic marker that may also be used to assess treatment response.
KW - Adult
KW - Aged
KW - Aged, 80 and over
KW - Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
KW - Antineoplastic Agents
KW - Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
KW - Cell-Free System
KW - Cyclophosphamide
KW - DNA Methylation
KW - DNA, Neoplasm
KW - Doxorubicin
KW - Epigenesis, Genetic
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Prednisone
KW - Promoter Regions, Genetic
KW - Retrospective Studies
KW - Rituximab
KW - Sequence Analysis, DNA
KW - Survival Analysis
KW - Treatment Outcome
KW - Vincristine
KW - Journal Article
KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
U2 - 10.1186/s13148-016-0261-y
DO - 10.1186/s13148-016-0261-y
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 27610206
VL - 8
JO - Clinical Epigenetics (Print)
JF - Clinical Epigenetics (Print)
SN - 1868-7075
M1 - 95
ER -