Every year, approximately 300 children are diagnosed with cancer in Québec. Accurate diagnosis relies on molecular analyses performed on the tumor. A subset of patients cannot have their tumor analyzed because a biopsy is impossible. Furthermore, current tests are not adapted to routinely monitor, during therapy, response to treatment and the development of resistance mutations, which could mandate treatment modifications. This project aims to test in the clinical setting of CHU Sainte-Justine laboratories non-invasive and sensitive approaches such as liquid biopsies and deep sequencing. Liquid biopsies enable the identification of alterations found in tumors by analyzing tumor DNA that circulates in the blood. Liquid biopsy-based tests will be used to complement diagnoses of solid tumors in patients, and to monitor response to therapies and detect early signs of relapse. In addition, we will deploy very sensitive deep sequencing approaches for disease monitoring in acute leukemias, and to identify patients who are at increased risk of relapsing. The proposed research will give patients access to innovative approaches that will contribute to their well-being and sustain expertise in clinical laboratories in Québec.
User: Emmanuelle Lemyre (OPTILAB CHU Sainte Justine)