Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology 2024 Oct 11
Diagnostic utility of ESR1 mutation detection in liquid biopsy of metastatic breast cancer patients.   
ABSTRACT
Molecular analysis of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) extracted from peripheral blood plasma samples of metastatic breast cancer (BC) patients is of rising interest to find optimal therapeutic strategies. Detection of emerging resistance mutations against endocrine therapy is possible with this approach. Here we present the applicability of a laboratory-developed NGS assay in molecular pathology routine diagnostic, covering four genes with therapeutic (ESR1, PIK3CA, ERBB2) and prognostic (TP53) consequences in metastatic BC. We analyzed 162 liquid biopsy samples and 25 corresponding metastases from metastatic BC patients. In the liquid biopsies, we detected ESR1 mutations in 42 cases (25.9%) and ERBB2 mutations in six cases (3.7%), arguing for a change in therapy to fulvestrant, elacestrant, or neratinib. Furthermore, 17 cases had detectable TP53 mutations, associated with resistance against endocrine therapy. We conclude that liquid biopsy testing is a noninvasive, sensitive, and helpful method to optimize therapeutic decisions in metastatic BC.

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Given that we now have data for PIK3CA (inavolisib, alpelisib), PTEN/AKT/PIK3CA (capivasertib), and ESR1 (elacestrant), when do you look for these alt...