2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) - Posters-P4.04C.02 Discrimination of Lung Cancer and Benign Lung Diseases Using BALF Exosomal DNA Methylation Profile

P4.04C.02 Discrimination of Lung Cancer and Benign Lung Diseases Using BALF Exosomal DNA Methylation Profile

Pdf Summary

The study led by In Ae Kim from the Precision Medicine Lung Cancer Center at Konkuk University highlights a promising approach to differentiate lung cancer from benign lung diseases using DNA methylation profiles of exosomes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Current low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer often fails to accurately differentiate malignant lesions, leading to unnecessary invasive procedures for benign conditions. <br /><br />The research introduces the Epi-TOP mLUNG assay, which employs a panel of seven genes identified for their specific methylation in lung cancer BALF exosome specimens to distinguish malignant lung nodules from benign ones. The assay was initially validated with retrospective BALF samples and is undergoing further validation in a prospective study. <br /><br />Key findings include the assay's high sensitivity and specificity in detecting lung cancer, even in its early stages. The assay's performance is bolstered by assessing smokers' histories as additional risk factors, which improved sensitivity rates from 88% to 92% for early-stage detection, and specificity rates up to 97.14% in some cases. <br /><br />The study stresses the potential of BALF-derived exosomes as a novel biomaterial for early lung cancer detection, offering a solution to reduce overdiagnosis and unnecessary invasive interventions associated with current LDCT screening practices. Further evaluations of clinical cost-effectiveness and integration with existing diagnostic tools are essential to making BALF exosome DNA methylation testing a viable option in clinical settings. <br /><br />Overall, this research presents a significant advancement in the precision medicine landscape for lung cancer, advocating for an improved molecular tool to enhance early lung cancer diagnosis accuracy.

Asset Subtitle

In Ae Kim

Meta Tag

Speaker In Ae Kim

Topic Screening & Early Detection

Keywords

lung cancer

DNA methylation

exosomes

bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

Epi-TOP mLUNG assay

biomarker

early detection

precision medicine

sensitivity and specificity

diagnostic tool