Interview with Dr. Jean-François Laes from OncoDNA SA

The cover for issue 29 of Oncotarget features Figure 2, "Categorisation of samples analysed," from Laes, et al.

- OncoDNA treatment recommendation followed in 60% of cases - 93% of treatment decisions were made based on a holistic approach combining next generation sequencing (NGS) and multiple biomarker analysis provided by OncoDNA - 27% of late-stage patients treated with OncoDNA-recommended therapies had overall survival less than 12 months, compared to a typical average of no more than six months Gosselies, Belgium - April 17, 2018: OncoDNA ("OncoDNA or "the Company"), the healthcare technology company that collates and translates complex cancer biomarker data to make precision medicine a reality, is pleased to announce the publication of a study in the journal Oncotarget evaluating the utility of OncoDNA's comprehensive biomarker analysis and interpretation services in clinical settings.

The study, published online today and titled "The clinical impact of using complex molecular profiling strategies in routine oncology practice", found that combining advanced, comprehensive testing of cancer biomarkers with OncoDNA's proprietary cancer treatment knowledge database can enable oncologists to make better treatment decisions for their patients. This is because OncoDNA's testing combines immunohistochemistry, next generation sequencing (NGS), and other tests including inherited heart condition testing, DNA methylation, and microsatellite instability (MSI) testing, rather than the industry standard of NGS testing alone.

The study analysed samples from 1,057 late-stage and advanced grade cancer patients from over 30 different countries on four continents between January 2015 and January 2016 for whom at least one standard of care treatment had already failed. Samples were analysed either by the sequencing of a solid biopsy only - with either a hotspot panel or comprehensive panel including more than 400 genes - or the study of biomarkers determined by immunohistochemistry and other biomolecular tests, or a combination of both. In order to assess the utility of tumour profiling in clinical practice, the study also analysed the therapeutic decisions made by oncologists after receiving OncoDNA's tumour analysis and treatment recommendation.

Overall, OncoDNA's treatment recommendation was followed in 60.4% of cases and in 99% of the cases that did not follow the recommendation the cited reason was drug unavailability or cost, not clinical consideration. The vast majority of treatment decisions (93.4%) were made based on OncoDNA's combination of tests rather than NGS alone. This is a substantial increase on NGS testing alone, which will typically yield a treatment recommendation in only 30% of cases. For the cases in which OncoDNA's treatment recommendation was followed, 27% of patients had an overall survival of less than 12 months, a significant improvement for late-stage patients, who normally have a life expectancy of no more than six months.

Jean-Pol Detiffe, Chief Executive Officer of OncoDNA, said: "This dataset demonstrates the utility and power of OncoDNA's proprietary, living database and our holistic approach to genomic and molecular profiling. For oncologists, the study suggests our testing and analysis products could represent the best way to make informed therapeutic decisions in clinical practice. Not only were OncoDNA's recommendations followed in the majority of cases, but the study also suggests that our comprehensive testing and analyses could represent the best approach for obtaining useful molecular insight, while reducing physicians' exposure to irrelevant aberrations. As we continue to expand our business through Europe and beyond, these results will help raise awareness of the benefits of our product offering among oncologists and further the healthcare industry's ability to prescribe precision medicine."

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DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.24757

Full text - https://www.oncotarget.com/article/24757/text/

Contact -
OncoDNA+32 (0) 71 18 35 00
Jean-Pol Detiffe,
CEO Jean-François Laes, CSO

Consilium Strategic Communications +44(0)2037095700
Amber Fennell, Sukaina Virji, Nicholas Brown, Hendrik Thys [email protected]

Keywords - molecular profiling, solid tumour, precision medicine, next-generation sequencing, therapeutic decision making in oncology