Seminal cell-free DNA molecular profile as a novel diagnostic and prognostic prostate cancer biomarkers

Non-blood sources of cell-free DNA for cancer molecular profiling in clinical pathology and oncology

“…The current authors recently demonstrated, for the first time, that human seminal fluid can be a valuable source of cfDNA for the identification of novel oncological biomarkers and seminal plasma cfDNA from PCa patients is significantly more concentrated than agematched healthy individuals and patients affected by BPH. (Ponti et al, 2018e) In the near future, the quantification and analysis of cfDNA will probably become part of routine diagnostic and clinical management of cancer patients. In order to accomplish this goal, it will be important to standardize ctDNA quantification methods and allow ctDNA detection for rare molecular alterations in order to anticipate drug resistance.…”

Seminal cell free DNA concentration levels discriminate between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia

“…However, the fluorimetric technique allows a fast and convenient quantification of the total amount of cfDNA, without distinction between the non-neoplastic and neoplastic fraction. It is plausible that the measurement of the total amount of cfDNA could be a more sensitive biomarker of the neoplastic process because the total amount of cfDNA includes also the fraction derived from apoptosis and necrosis (10)(11)(12).…”

“…However, this antigen is not cancer-specific and may be elevated in other non-malignant conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis (6,7). Several new biological markers such as BRCA2 (8,9), TMPRSS2-Erg fusion and PCA3 (10) and four-kallikrein panel (11) have been shown to add sensitivity and specificity to PSA, thereby decreasing the incidence of PCa over-diagnosis. Current evidence regarding biomarkers is too limited for the development of recommendations.…”

Quick assessment of cell-free DNA in seminal fluid and fragment size for early non-invasive prostate cancer diagnosis

“…Significant differences in levels and size distribution of cfDNA were also found in seminal fluid of PCa and BPH patients, respectively [3][4][5] .…”

“…The extraction and characterization of ctDNA from seminal fluid (scfDNA) is probably a major step forward in PCa diagnosis and follow-up compared to traditional diagnostic techniques involving prostate-specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and invasive biopsy [12]. Recently, we reported that the quantification and the electrophoretic characterization of cfDNA in seminal plasma can differentiate between PCa patients, BPH patients, and age-matched healthy individuals; indeed, scfDNA concentrations are higher in PCa patients and present a distinct electrophoretic pattern [3,4]. scfDNA can be easily analysed through cost-…”