Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40577963›Full record

ArticleTranslational oncology2025

Longitudinal profiling of hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer through droplet digital PCR-based circulating tumor DNA fragmentomics.

Lorenzo Foffano, Alessandra Franzoni, Elisabetta Molteni, Fabiola Giudici, Arianna Dri, Debora Basile, Linda Cucciniello, Silvia Buriolla, Claudia Noto, Stefania Russo and 11 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Translational oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

21 authors.

Lorenzo FoffanoDepartment of Medical Oncology, CRO di Aviano, National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Alessandra FranzoniInstitute of Human Genetics, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), 33100 Udine, Italy.
Elisabetta MolteniDepartment of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Fabiola GiudiciUnit of Cancer Epidemiology, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.
Arianna DriDepartment of Medical Oncology, CRO di Aviano, National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Debora BasileSan Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Crotone.
Linda CuccinielloDepartment of Medical Oncology, CRO di Aviano, National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Silvia BuriollaDepartment of Oncology, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), 33100 Udine, Italy.
Claudia NotoAzienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Trieste, Medical Oncology, Ospedale Maggiore, 34125 Trieste, Italy.
Stefania RussoDepartment of Oncology, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), 33100 Udine, Italy.
Elena NascimbeniClinical Trial Office, CRO di Aviano, National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
Silvia BolzonelloDepartment of Medical Oncology, CRO di Aviano, National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
Brenno PastòDepartment of Medical Oncology, CRO di Aviano, National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Serena Della RossaDepartment of Medical Oncology, CRO di Aviano, National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Lorenzo AllegriInstitute of Human Genetics, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), 33100 Udine, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Marta BonottoDepartment of Oncology, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), 33100 Udine, Italy.
Alessandro Marco MinisiniDepartment of Oncology, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), 33100 Udine, Italy.
Barbara BellettiDivision of Molecular Oncology, CRO di Aviano, National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
Giuseppe DamanteInstitute of Human Genetics, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), 33100 Udine, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Lorenzo GerratanaDepartment of Medical Oncology, CRO di Aviano, National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy. Electronic address: lorenzo.gerratana@outlook.com.
Fabio PuglisiDepartment of Medical Oncology, CRO di Aviano, National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn the context of hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative Metastatic breast cancer (MBC), CDK 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) combined with endocrine therapy represent the standard first-line treatment, improving Progression-Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS). Despite these benefits, resistance to treatment develops, necessitating early risk classification to guide clinical management. This study explores the potential of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragmentomics, specifically ACTB fragments, in predicting tumor dynamics and treatment outcomes in luminal MBC, based on the principle that shorter DNA fragments are generally indicative of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from tumor cells, while longer fragments are associated with leukocyte lysis.

methodsIn the MAGNETIC.1 study, 141 women with luminal-like MBC were enrolled between January 2018 and January 2023. Blood samples were collected at baseline (BL), and after 3 (T3) and 6 (T6) months of treatment. cfDNA was extracted and analyzed using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to quantify ACTB fragments (136 bp, 420 bp, and 2,000 bp). Continuous variables were compared using the Mann-Whitney test and Kruskall Wallis test depending on data distribution and number of groups. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test or Fischer's exact test whenever appropriate. Differences in survival were tested by log-rank test and uni- and multivariable Cox regression.

resultsBy categorizing the values of actinic fragments into interquartiles (Q1, Q2, and Q3), ACTB

conclusionsThis study demonstrates the feasibility of employing a fragmentomics mutation agnostic approach in luminal MBC. Baseline and longitudinal changes in ACTB fragments were significantly associated with clinical outcomes, suggesting their potential as non-invasive biomarkers for early risk classification and monitoring tumor dynamics.

Indexed as

Circulating tumor DNAFragmentomicsLiquid biopsyMetastatic breast cancer

Identifiers

PMID40577963
PMCPMC12268100

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