Ultra-rapid digital droplet PCR can measure the levels of tumor cells in a tissue sample in about 15 minutes<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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MONDAY, March 3, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Intraoperative ultra-rapid droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (UR-ddPCR) can identify tumor genetic subtype and quantify tumor cell percentage with high accuracy, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Med<\/em>.<\/p>\n Zachary R. Murphy, Ph.D., from the New York University Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, and colleagues introduced UR-ddPCR to examine its feasibility for use during surgery and whether the workflow can reduce the time from tissue biopsy to molecular diagnosis.<\/p>\n The researchers developed a UR-ddPCR assay for the IDH1<\/em> R132H mutation that accurately measured the mutant DNA percentage down to 0.1 percent, which was concordant with standard ddPCR. In addition, a UR-ddPCR assay was developed for the BRAF<\/em> V600E mutation. The clinical feasibility of UR-ddPCR was assessed by intraoperative use in 22 brain tumor cases, with multiple tissue samples per case (78 samples). The tissue samples were used for UR-Stimulated Raman Histology and UR-ddPCR. There was high concordance for tumor cell percentages measured by intraoperative UR-ddPCR with standard ddPCR performed on the sample lysates. Raman histologic images provided real-time measurement of total cellularity, with tumor cell densities ranging from >1,300 to <5 tumor cells\/mm2<\/sup> within the core and at tumor margins, respectively. The UR-ddPCR results were achieved in an average of 14 minutes and 39 seconds and 17 minutes and seven seconds for IDH1<\/em> R132H and BRAF<\/em> V600E assays, respectively.<\/p>\n “Our study shows that ultra-rapid droplet digital PCR could be a fast and efficient tool for making a molecular diagnosis during surgery for brain cancer,” co-senior author Gilad D. Evrony, M.D., Ph.D., also from the New York University Grossman School of Medicine, said in a statement.<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries; several authors are listed on a provision patent on the technology. Reagents and instruments were provided by Bio-Rad.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n