Drugs such as Roche/Genentech's ($RHHBY) Avastin (bevacizumab) boost the survival odds of some ovarian cancer patients but not others. Researchers from The University of Manchester in the U.K. and colleagues believe they've developed a new blood test that can help identify patients that respond well to the drug.
The journal Clinical Cancer Research details the results of their promising findings.
Avastin (bevacizumab) is designed to stunt development of new blood vessels inside a tumor. With that in mind, the U.K. research team developed a test that screens for two biomarkers--Ang1 and Tie2--proteins that help control the development of new blood vessels.
Their trial entailed a look at blood samples from patients who participated in an international study involving bevacizumab. Participating patients either received just standard chemotherapy or chemo in combination with the drug.
Patients who were most likely to benefit from bevacizumab had high levels of Ang1 in their blood and low levels of Tie2. But patients with high levels of both proteins didn't gain any added benefits from bevacizumab.
More research is necessary to verify the effectiveness and consistency of the blood test, and the reliability of the two biomarkers. But the team believes they could develop a viable diagnostic based on the concept within a few years. Researchers said they will pursue more studies, with an eye on using the specific blood test to help personalize ovarian cancer treatment for blood vessel-targeting drugs such as bevacizumab.
They're not the only ones trying. Almac Group, a U.K. Life sciences contract manufacturer, said in June that it validated a new diagnostic test that screened for ovarian cancer patients for whom Roche's Avastin would hurt.
Both approaches have merit. A blood test that identifies patients for whom a cancer drug will work best, or not work at all, can lead to a lot of things. Patients can be treated sooner with a drug that has a greater chance of working on the genetic level. Or, they can be switched from a drug that doesn't work a lot sooner, leaving room for a treatment that could produce a greater shot at survival.
- read the release
- here's the journal abstract