News for Patients

Testing of Patients' DNA to Determine Therapy Response

December 31, 2008

The New York Times, in a December 29, 2008 article by Andrew Pollack, discussed the availability of tests that can help tailor treatment for colon and breast cancers, among other diseases. These are evidence that, despite all the obstacles, the era of "personalized medicine" is coming. Patients, their oncologists, and the drug companies that supply their medication are beginning to realize the importance of identifying patients who might, and who might not, respond to increasingly expensive therapies.

While the search for such markers of response is still in its infancy, a chart from the NY Times article highlights some of the tests currently available.

The two tests at the top of the list, HER2 testing in breast cancer specimens to determine patients who might respond to trastuzumab (Herceptin™), and KRAS testing of colon cancers to determine which patients are not candidates for cetuximab (Erbitux™) or panitumumab (Vectibix™) therapy, are available at PhenoPath Laboratories.