Genomic predictive testing for breast cancer
In its early stages, breast cancer is treated mainly with surgery, sometimes in conjunction with radiotherapy. Optimal disease management may also include an adjuvant therapy, which can prevent early metastases appearance. To avoid exposing the patient to the toxic effects of this treatment and lowering their quality of life, several genomic tests have been developed to evaluate the recurrence risk in women with early stages breast cancer. Based on the results of this tests, we can choose the most suitable subjects for this treatment and exclude women for whom there would not be clinical benefits.
Genomic testing in predicting response to breast cancer therapy
Breast cancer classification is currently based on immunohistochemistry protocol (IHC), that has some limits in accuracy and reproduction. Predictive genomic tests overcome IHC issues thanks to precise, reproducible measurement of ESR1, PGR, ErbB2 and MKI67 tumor markers. This measurement provides relevant information about the potential benefits of chemotherapy, hormone therapy and target therapy.
Precision oncology test for molecular therapies
The precision oncology test can reveal a genetic cancer profile, based on which the clinician can choose the best treatment. It’s currently given in several cancer types: breast, lung, colo-rectal, skin and stomach. Knowing the genetic makeup of a tumour increases the chances of treating it with targeted therapies, which act directly on the mutations that have been identified. This test, in fact, can detect all four genomic alteration classes necessary for a wide cancer profiling . It has a sensitivity range from 95% to 99%, therefore its results are very reliable.
AR-VT test for the prediction of response to prostate cancer therapy
Thanks to the Prophecy study’s results, the relation between AR-V7 protein in the blood and the efficacy of some treatments in prostate cancer has been confirmed. In fact, patients with AT-V7 expression have very low chances of obtaining benefits from abiraterone or enzalutamide treatments. With this predictive test, we can check AR-V7 protein expression in patients and appropriately manage therapies.
Testing of drug sensitivity in cancer
The current technologies for testing of drug sensitivity in cancer don’t give us a quick result: the average waiting time is 18 days. For this reason, 14% of patients start their treatments after more than a month. Reducing this time means starting the therapies first and avoiding an unnecessary chemotherapy with all side effects. The sensitivity test is based on an automatic molecular diagnostic system that gives results on the same day, allowing clinicians to ensure timely decisions on treatments.
