Dr Corvigno on Chemotherapy-Related Clonal Hematopoiesis in Ovarian Cancer

Sara Corvigno, MD, PhD, translational researcher, oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses findings from a study on the incidence of chemotherapy-related clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential in patients with ovarian cancer.

Chemotherapy-induced clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential refers to genetic variations found in circulating tumor cells, linked to early hematological clones that could progress into hematological malignancies, Corvigno begins. This issue has become increasingly recognized in ovarian cancer, particularly due to the widespread use of PARP inhibitors, which have led to an observed rise in the incidence of hematological malignancies as a secondary complication, she explains. As such, it is imperative for health care professionals to closely monitor patients undergoing chemotherapy, stratify them based on risk factors, and understand whether there are specific molecular markers indicative of their susceptibility to developing secondary hematological malignancies, Corvigno states.

In this study, investigators meticulously analyzed a cohort of patients with ovarian cancer, employing liquid biopsy techniques to examine circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for genetic markers associated with hematological malignancies, Corvigno expands. To ensure the robustness of these findings, investigators established stringent criteria requiring the presence of matching mutations in both ctDNA and white blood cells, thus confirming the presence of hematological malignancies in the patients studied, according to Corvigno.

A distinct cluster of mutations occurring with increased frequency following chemotherapy was identified, Corvigno continues. This observation indicates that certain hematological cell clones may exhibit a propensity for expansion in response to chemotherapy, thereby warranting further investigation into the underlying mechanisms driving this phenomenon, she elucidates.

Moving forward, it is imperative to conduct comprehensive follow-up studies, particularly on a cohort of patients who have developed secondary hematological malignancies, to validate and strengthen the significance of these findings, Corvigno reports. Ultimately, such validation efforts will improve the clinical utility of these identified genetic markers in risk stratification and personalized patient management strategies, she concludes.

Disclosures: Dr Corvigno reports no financial relationships.