Fetal Aneuploid Tests Can Spot Occult Cancer in Pregnant Women

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Dec. 5, 2024 -- Almost half of pregnant or postpartum women with unusual or nonreportable clinical cell-free (cf)DNA-sequencing results have occult cancer, according to a study published in the Dec. 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Amy E. Turriff, from the Center for Precision Health Research in Bethesda, Maryland, and colleagues performed cancer screening in pregnant or postpartum persons who did not perceive signs or symptoms of cancer but received unusual clinical cfDNA-sequencing results or results that were nonreportable from one of 12 commercial laboratories. A uniform cancer screening protocol was used, including rapid whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), laboratory tests, and standardized cfDNA sequencing with the use of a genome-wide platform. The presence of cancer after the initial cancer-screening evaluation was examined as the primary outcome.

The researchers found that in the initial cohort, cancer was present in 52 of 107 participants (48.6 percent). Whole-body MRI had sensitivity of 98.0 percent and specificity of 88.5 percent for detecting occult cancer. For identifying patients with cancer, physical examination and laboratory tests were of limited use. Forty-nine participants had a combination of copy-number gains and losses across multiple chromosomes (three or more); 47 (95.9 percent) with this sequencing pattern had cancer. Participants with nonmalignant conditions, such as fibroids, had sequencing patterns of cfDNA in which there were only chromosomal gains or only chromosomal losses.

"Our results support the use of whole-body MRI in the evaluation of pregnant persons who receive prenatal cfDNA-sequencing results suggestive of cancer," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2024-12-06 06:00

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords