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. 2018 Oct;24(4):941-945.
doi: 10.1007/s12253-018-0416-6. Epub 2018 May 5.

Seminal Cell-Free DNA Assessment as a Novel Prostate Cancer Biomarker

Giovanni Ponti  1 , Monia Maccaferri  2 , Mauro Mandrioli  3 , Marco Manfredini  4 , Salvatore Micali  5 , Michele Cotugno  5 , Giampaolo Bianchi  5 , Tomris Ozben  6 , Giovanni Pellacani  4 , Chiara Del Prete  5 , Aldo Tomasi  2
Affiliations
Free article

Seminal Cell-Free DNA Assessment as a Novel Prostate Cancer Biomarker

Giovanni Ponti et al. Pathol Oncol Res. 2018 Oct.
Free article

Abstract

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) includes circulating DNA fragments, which can be obtained from different human biological samples. cfDNA originates either from apoptotic and/or necrotic cells or is actively secreted by cancer cells. As yet, a quantification and size distribution assessment of seminal plasma cfDNA from prostate cancer patients has never been assessed. To discover a novel, sensitive, non-invasive biomarker of prostate cancer, through the fluorometric quantification and the electrophoretic analysis of seminal cfDNA in prostate cancer patients compared to healthy individuals. The concentration of seminal plasma cfDNA in prostate cancer patients was 2243.67 ± 1758 ng/μl, compared to 57.7 ± 4.8 ng/μl in healthy individuals (p < 0.05). Electrophoresis sites distribution patterns were different; ladder fragmentation was associated with prostate cancer patients and apoptotic electrophoretic fragmentation with healthy individuals. Human seminal fluid can be a valuable source of cfDNA in the setting of liquid biopsy procedures for the identification of novel oncological biomarkers. Seminal plasma cfDNA in prostate cancer patients is significantly more concentrated than that of age-matched, healthy controls. Fluorometric measurement and electrophoretic assessment allow a reliable quantification and characterization of seminal plasma cfDNA, which can be used routinely in prostate cancer screening programs.

Keywords: Fluorimetry; Liquid biopsy; Prostate cancer; Prostate cancer screening; Seminal plasma cfDNA; Spermal cfDNA; Urological biomarkers.

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