Liquid Biopsy - Circulating Cell-Free Methylated DNA in Prostate Cancer

Circulating cell-free methylated DNA (cfmeDNA) is a promising new biomarker for cancer detection, diagnosis, and monitoring. It is a non-invasive and easily accessible alternative to tissue biopsy, and it has the potential to improve the sensitivity and specificity of cancer diagnosis.

The use of cfmeDNA addresses the issues of low sensitivity and reproducibility associated with liquid biopsy. There are three advantages to developing cfmeDNA as a biomarker:

1.     Methylation profiles differ between normal and malignant tissues. This means that cfmeDNA can be used to distinguish between cancerous and non-cancerous cells.

2.     Methylation profiles are tissue specific. This means that cfmeDNA can be used to identify the type of cancer that is present.

3.     The "target size" for methylation is larger than the target size for other cancer biomarkers, such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). This means that cfmeDNA can be more sensitive than genetic mutations.

CfMeDIP-Seq: A Novel Technique for Cancer Detection and Classification
Cell-free methylated DNA immunoprecipitation and high throughput sequencing (cfMeDIP-seq) is a highly sensitive technique for non-invasive cancer detection and classification. It involves immunoprecipitating methylated DNA from cfDNA and then sequencing it to identify tumor-specific methylation patterns.

CfMeDIP-seq has been shown to be effective at detecting a variety of cancers, including prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer. It is also able to accurately distinguish between different histology,  such as adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer.

Potential Applications of cfMeDIP-Seq in Prostate Cancer
In our lab we are currently investigating the potential applications of cfMeDIP-seq in prostate cancer. One potential application is for the early detection of prostate cancer. CfMeDIP-seq could be used to screen men for prostate cancer before they develop any symptoms.
Another potential application of cfMeDIP-seq is to distinguish between low-grade prostate cancer and high-grade prostate cancer. This is important because high-grade prostate cancer is more aggressive and requires more aggressive treatment.
Finally, we are also investigating whether cfMeDIP-seq can be used to assess a patient's response to treatment, particularly androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapies such as enzalutamide.