In patients with cancer it is, thanks to the invention of PGA (Patient-derived Gene expression-informed Anticancer drug efficacy) technology, now possible to predict within a week which anticancer drugs will work in a particular patient.

With the help of PGA, a blood-based test, scientists from OncoDxRx could predict up to 5 weeks faster drug efficacy for individual patients.

This is important news for patients. Normally, it takes 2 to 6 weeks (at least one therapeutic cycle) before it is known wheter an anticancer drug(s) will work.

The right drug, much faster

"PGA test suggested that cancer type-specific biomarkers, and a patient-derived gene expression signature, would be predictive of the efficacy of anticancer drugs," says OncoDxRx.

This new technology can help to better tailor cancer treatment to the individual patient. Currently, there is no exact prediction tool for patients with limited treatment options (ie., those not qualified for or not responding to precision medicine). Even the patients are given the medication and after 6 to 8 weeks – in practice often up to several months – it is checked whether the medication works. If the clinical outcome does not improve, the patient is given another drug or combination therapy, and this process can repeat itself several times. This standard cycle often takes weeks, if not months.

In two out of three cancer patients, it is highly likely that cancer is still progressive after several treatment steps. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a solution that allows a faster determination of the effectiveness of anticancer drugs in progressive disease.

OncoDxRx believes PGA is the solution we’ve been looking for.