USE OF DNA IN CIRCULATING EXOSOMES AS A DIAGNOSTIC MARKER FOR METASTASIC DISEASE

摘要

The present invention is directed to methods of diagnosing, prognosing, and monitoring cancer in a subject. These methods involves selecting a subject having cancer, and obtaining, from the selected subject, a sample containing exosomal DNA. The presence or absence of one or more mutations in BRAF and/or EGFR is detected in the exosomal DNA sample from the subject, and a diagnosis and/or prognosis of the cancer is given based on the detection of the one or more mutations in BRAF and/or EGFR. The present invention further relates to methods of treating a subject having cancer and/or monitoring a subject response to therapy based on the detection of one or more mutations in BRAF and/or EGFR in the exosomal DNA sample.