Genomic Test May Predict Which Patients Would Benefit Most From Checkpoint Inhibition

New genomic test could determine the patients who would benefit most from immunotherapy. Foundation Medicine, a molecular diagnostics company out of Cambridge, Massachusetts has created a test which determines a patient’s tumor mutation burden (TMB). Patients with high TMB have been shown to respond better to checkpoint inhibitors. The test has shown high tumor burden in cancers where checkpoint inhibitors are used in clinic as well as those where the therapy is not usually considered a viable option.

References:

1. Schattner, E. Which patients will be helped by immune cancer drugs? This test may tell. Forbes website. https://www.forbes.com/sites/elaineschattner/2017/04/12/which-cancer-patients-will-be-helped-by-powerful-immune-drugs-this-test-may-tell/#7c4d65f3689c. April 12, 2017. Accessed April 20, 2017.
2. Rizvi, NA et al. Mutational landscape determines sensitivity to PD-1 blockade in non-small cell lung cancer. Science 03 Apr 2015; 348(6230): 124-128. Doi: 10.1126/science.aaa1348

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