Molecular diagnostics in cancer care

Docrates has several different genetic and other tests in its disposal to get more information about the effectiveness of medical treatments. The tests can also help to determine the primary site of the cancer in situations where a metastatic cancer is diagnosed without an obvious primary tumor.

The tests may also provide further information when assessing a prognosis for the cancer. The tests are done using tissue, blood or saliva samples.

Examples of tests used by Docrates:

CMI (Caris MI Profile)

The CMI test specifies a large number of factors, both genes and structures found on the surface of cancer cells or in cancer tissue, i.e. biomarkers, using a sample taken from a tumor. The test result can be helpful in choosing the drug therapy in situations where there is no obvious research-based treatment option available.
Read more: carismolecularintelligence.com.

Monitoring solution

The Monitoring solution test is carried out in two phases. The first test specifies a large number of factors, both genes and structures found on the surface of cancer cells or in cancer tissue, i.e. biomarkers, using a sample taken from a tumor. The test result can be helpful in choosing the drug therapy in situations where there is no obvious research-based treatment option. For the second test, a blood sample is taken and used to analyse genes based on the findings of the OncoDNA test. The  test provides information on all metastases – not only the one the tissue sample was taken from. If the tissue sample was taken during an earlier phase of the illness, the test also provides information about the changes that have taken place in the expression of genetic defects in the intervening period. The Monitoring test can, when repeated during the treatment or when a new treatment is being planned, be used to detect changes in the genetic defect profile, which can provide more information for planning the new treatment. Read more: oncodna.com/distributors.

OncotypeDX

The Oncotype DX test is used when planning adjuvant drug therapy for breast cancer, in situations where it is judged that chemotherapy could be discontinued without a negative effect on the prognosis. The test is done using a tissue sample taken from the breast tumor.
Read more: breast-cancer.oncotypedx.com/en-GB/Patient-Invasive.

Foundation Medicine

FoundationOne CDx analysis is used to analyse 324 genes associated with cancer. The analysis is very comprehensive because, unlike many other tests, FoundationOne surveys the whole of the genes that are being analysed and detects all types of mutations, even the rare ones.

FoundationOne Liquid CDx in turn is a so-called liquid biopsy analysis where a blood sample is used to analyse 324 genes of a tumor’s DNA found in the bloodstream. The liquid biopsy method is particularly useful if it is not possible to obtain a normal tissue sample from the tumor or when the aim is to monitor the patient’s response to targeted drug therapy. A report is produced for the physician’s use based on the detected mutations. This report details which approved targeted drugs or clinical drug trials could be suitable for the patient. Read more: foundationmedicine.fi, syovangeenit.fi

Test results

A comprehensive test report by the laboratory is prepared in connection with all the tests. It is important to carefully go through the test results with your treating physician. This ensures that the interpretation of the test results is correct and the measures taken after the test results are appropriate.

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