Alain Thierry and his colleagues offer a new allele-specific, quantitative PCR–based method designed for the detection of point mutations and determination of mutation load using circulating cell-free DNA isolated from blood. In a blinded study of patients with colorectal cancer, the method exhibited 98% specificity and 92% sensitivity for the seven KRAS point mutations tested and compared favorably with other routinely used detection methods. The approach should help in patients selection for anti-EGFR treatments and for monitoring resistance.
- Alain R Thierry
- Florent Mouliere
- Marc Ychou
