5624 Background: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic cancer and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is the predominant presenting symptom. While <10% of AUB represents underlying EC, endometrial sampling is currently required to rule out EC. To develop an alternative, non-invasive rule-out strategy, we aimed to refine a previously reported EC-associated methylated DNA marker (MDM) panel in vaginal swabs. Methods: Patients ≥18 years old with AUB who met ACOG recommendations for endometrial sampling and those undergoing a hysterectomy for biopsy-proven EC or atypical hyperplasia (AH) were prospectively enrolled in a multicenter cohort study. A vaginal fluid specimen was collected via swab by a provider during a speculum exam. DNA was extracted from samples and bisulfite treated, followed by a target and signal amplification method to detect 8 previously identified MDMs. The cross-validated EC classification model used the mean of standardized MDMs. Clinical classification of benign endometrium (BE), EC, and AH was based on central pathology review. EC diagnoses were based on hysterectomy specimens. Endometrioid and mucinous constituted type 1 EC; serous, carcinosarcoma, clear cell, and mixed histology ECs were collectively analyzed as type 2. Results: Of 693 participants enrolled, 670 were evaluable with valid results: 524 in the AUB cohort and 146 in the suspected EC cohort. Within the AUB cohort, 16 had EC or AH. The final analysis cohort included 508 BE, 156 EC, and 6 AH. Of the evaluable participants 20% identified as Black, 3% Asian or Pacific Islander, 75% White, and 3% Other; 7% reported Hispanic ethnicity. Median age was 66 and 50 years for EC and BE AUB, respectively; 80% of those with EC and 43% with benign AUB reported being postmenopausal. Among participants with EC, 102 (65%), 17 (11%), 30 (19%), 6 (4%) were stage I, II, III, and IV, respectively; one EC was unstaged. Type 2 EC accounted for 42 (27%) of all EC cases. A 4-MDM panel yielded an AUC of 0.97 (0.96-0.99, 95% CI) for EC; models with 5-8 MDMs gave identical performance. All-stage EC sensitivity was 97, 97, 96, 95, and 92% at specificities ranging from 75, 80, 85, 90, and 95%, respectively. At the 85% (82-88%) specificity threshold, sensitivities across EC stage, type, and age were consistently high (Table). Sensitivity for AH was 33% (10-70%). Conclusions: An MDM panel demonstrated high sensitivity for EC across stage and EC type, supporting the potential for a non-invasive vaginal swab-based test to rule out EC. Future studies are necessary to finalize the panel and algorithm, prior to validating the test. Clinical trial information: NCT06294886 . EC Sensitivity (%, 95% CI) at 85% Specificity All Stages (n=156)* 96 (92-98) Stage I (n=102) 94 (88 - 97) II (n=17) 100 (82 - 100) III (n=30) 100 (89 - 100) IV (n=6) 100 (61 - 100) Type 1 (n=114) 95 (89 - 98) 2 (n=42) 100 (92 -100) Age ≤ 66 yrs (n=86) 95 (89 - 98) > 66 (n=70) 97 (90 - 99) *n=1 EC was un-staged.
Feasibility of vaginal tampon versus swab in the collection of vaginal fluid for endometrial cancer testing.
e17617 Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a cardinal symptom of endometrial cancer (EC). However, 90-95% of those with AUB will undergo invasive endometrial sampling with the finding of benign etiology. Our group has identified EC-related methylated DNA markers (MDMs) detectable in vaginal fluid obtained via self-collected tampon with high sensitivity to detect EC. To provide alternative vaginal fluid collection options, we compared total DNA recovery and detection of EC MDMs between tampon and swab collection methods. Methods: Patients ≥45 yrs with AUB or undergoing routine gynecologic care, and patients ≥18 yrs with biopsy-confirmed EC or atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) were prospectively enrolled for paired vaginal fluid biospecimens collection. Participants self-collected vaginal fluid via tampon before provider-collected vaginal fluid sampling via swab immediately prior to clinically indicated endometrial sampling or hysterectomy. Cases (EC/AEH) and benign controls were determined by expert review. DNA was extracted from vaginal fluid. Bisulfite converted DNA was then used in long-probe quantitative amplified signal (LQAS) assays for 10 MDMs and 2 reference markers (RMs). Total DNA recovery using the RMs and detection of EC-specific MDMs were compared across sampling techniques. MDMs were standardized using the log of the ratio of the MDM and RM1. Standardized MDMs were compared between swabs and tampons using median and interquartile range (IQR). Results: A total of 40 eligible participants were evaluated in this study, 20 cases and 20 controls. Median time between tampon and swab collection was 27 hours (range 1-53). DNA quantity as measured using both RM1 and RM2 were comparable between swab and tampon in both cases and controls; MDM detection was also comparable between swab and tampon in both cases and controls (Table 1; 8 representative MDMs shown). Though not powered for sensitivity and specificity estimation, EC-related MDMs appear higher in EC cases vs controls, using either sample type. Conclusions: Sampling vaginal fluid with provider-collected swabs or self-collected tampons are both effective for detection of validated EC MDMs. Studies are ongoing to optimize an MDM panel to detect EC in vaginal fluid. Control Tampon Control Swab Case Tampon Case Swab RM1 3.5 [3.3-3.8] 4.2 [3.8-4.2] 3.6 [3.2-3.9] 4.2 [3.8-4.5] MDM1 0.5 [0.4-0.7] 0.4 [0.2-0.6] 1.3 [0.8-1.8] 1.1 [0.6-1.7] MDM2 1.5 [1.2-1.9] 0.9 [0.7-1.2] 3.2 [2.2-4.7] 2.9 [1.7-4.5] MDM3 0.5 [0.4-0.6] 0.4 [0.3-0.5] 1.5 [0.9-2.3] 1.0 [0.8-2.3] MDM4 0.9 [0.6-1.3] 0.5 [0.4-0.7] 2.3 [1.3-3.7] 1.9 [1.0-3.6] MDM5 1.3 [0.6-1.4] 0.8 [0.6-1.0] 3.3 [2.5-4.1] 3.1 [2.4-3.9] MDM6 1.6 [1.3-2.1] 1.2 [0.8-1.7] 3.3 [2.6-4.3] 3.1 [2.3-4.1] MDM7 1.5 [1.1-1.7] 1.0 [0.4-1.4] 3.5 [2.6-4.1] 3.3 [2.1-3.8] MDM8 0.5 [0.3-0.6] 0.5 [0.4-0.7] 1.8 [1.0-2.7] 1.7 [1.0-2.5] Median (IQR) for RM1 and 8 MDMs by case/control and sampling technique.
Next-generation Multi-target Stool DNA Panel Accurately Detects Colorectal Cancer and Advanced Precancerous Lesions
Abstract The multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA) test screens for colorectal cancer by analyzing DNA methylation/mutation and hemoglobin markers to algorithmically derive a qualitative result. A new panel of highly discriminant candidate methylated DNA markers (MDM) was recently developed. Performance of the novel MDM panel, with hemoglobin, was evaluated in a simulated screening population using archived stool samples weighted to early-stage colorectal cancer and prospectively collected advanced precancerous lesions (APL). Marker selection study (MSS) and separate preliminary independent verification studies (VS) were conducted utilizing samples from multi-center, case–control studies. Sample processing included targeted MDM capture, bisulfite conversion, and MDM quantitation. Fecal hemoglobin was quantified using ELISA. Samples were stratified into 75%/25% training-testing sets; model outcomes were cross-validated 1,000 times. All laboratory operators were blinded. The MSS included 232 cases (120 colorectal cancer/112 APLs) and 490 controls. The VS featured 210 cases (112 colorectal cancer/98 APLs) and 567 controls; APLs were 86.7% adenomas and 13.3% sessile serrated lesions (SSL). Average age was 65.5 (cases) and 63.2 (controls) years. Mean sensitivity in the VS from cross-validation was 95.2% for colorectal cancer and 57.2% for APLs, with specificities of 89.8% (no CRC/APLs) and 92.4% (no neoplasia). Subgroup analyses showed colorectal cancer sensitivities of 93.4% (stage I) and 94.2% (stage II). APL sensitivity was 82.9% for high-grade dysplasia, 73.4% for villous lesions, 49.8% for tubular lesions, and 30.2% for SSLs. These data support high sensitivity and specificity for a next-generation mt-sDNA test panel. Further evaluation of assay performance will be characterized in a prospective, multi-center clinical validation study (NCT04144738). Prevention Relevance: This study highlights performance of the next-generation mt-sDNA test, which exhibits high sensitivity and specificity for detecting colorectal cancer and APLs. This noninvasive option has potential to increase screening participation and clinical outcomes. A multi-center, clinical validation trial is underway. See related commentary by Bresalier, p. 93