MIT Researchers Develop Method to Enhance Tumor DNA Detection in Blood

New technique using injectable 'priming agents' could improve early cancer diagnosis and treatment guidance.

Researchers from MIT, the Broad Institute of MIT, and Harvard have developed a method to enhance the detection of tumor DNA in the bloodstream by temporarily slowing down the removal of circulating tumor DNA.
They created two injectable molecules, called “priming agents,” that can briefly disrupt the body’s ability to clear tumor DNA from the bloodstream.
In experiments with mice, these agents increased DNA levels enough that the detectability of early-stage lung metastases rose from less than 10 percent to over 75 percent.
This technique can potentially enable earlier cancer diagnosis, improve the sensitivity of detecting tumor mutations for treatment guidance, and enhance cancer recurrence detection.
After injecting either of the priming agents, it takes about an hour or two for the levels of DNA to increase in the bloodstream. However, these elevated levels return to normal within approximately 24 hours.