Foundation Medicine (FMI) announced the publication of the results of a large study demonstrating that its novel, investigational assay to measure
blood tumor mutational burden can help predict response to the anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy, atezolizumab, in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer.
The new assay, an expanded version of its FoundationACT assay, will include more than 70 genes and genomic biomarkers for microsatellite instability and
blood tumor mutational burden.
At the time of admission, the physical examination and laboratory test results were normal, with the exception of a slightly elevated
blood tumor marker (CYFRA21-1: 5.2 ng/ml, normal range: 0-3.3 ng/ml).
7.45 (260m): Typhoo (Scr), Max's Boy (3),
Blood Tumor (4), Reggie (7), Esther (7), Nutcase (8).
I have the privilege of working with
blood tumor markers like HE4, which aids in detecting ovarian cancer, from a bench top validation (ELISA) to an automated analyzer.
So far, the ACT approach is effective against liquid, or
blood tumors, rather than solid tumors, as are found in breast and colorectal cancers, for example.
Benzene is known to cause hematotoxicity and
blood tumors in humans and mice.
The company is developing CAR T products against a range of cancer antigens with the potential to target both solid and
blood tumors.