Merck Receives Positive CHMP Opinion for KEYTRUDA® in Combination Therapy for First-Line Treatment of Non-Epithelioid Mesothelioma

Australia Launches Genomics Australia to Lead Advances in Genomic Medicine

Sidra Medicine Unveils Masterclasses Ahead of PMFG 2024 Summit

FDA Approves Revuforj® as First Menin Inhibitor for Acute Leukemia with KMT2A Translocation

CHMP Recommends Approval of Opdivo® Plus Yervoy® for First-Line Treatment of MSI-H/dMMR Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

ADDF Invests $1.18M to Standardize p-tau217 Blood Tests for Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

GSK Reports Positive Interim Results for DREAMM-7 Trial of Blenrep in Multiple Myeloma

Molbio Diagnostics Invests $30 Million in OptraSCAN to Revolutionize Digital Pathology

BioNTech Acquires Chinese Oncology Firm Biotheus for $950M

The Care and Protection of Children Trust

CPCT Launches Groundbreaking Initiative to Provide Lifelong Free Treatment for Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in Karnataka

Early Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Improves Cancer Treatment Outcomes, Study Shows

EMA Reverses Decision, Recommends Limited Approval for Eisai and Biogen’s Alzheimer’s Drug Leqembi

Exact Sciences Unveils Advances in Multi-Cancer Early Detection with Cancerguard™ Test

MSD and LaNova Medicines Enter Exclusive Global License Agreement for Novel Cancer Therapy, LM-299

Promising CAR T Cell Therapies from BMS and Cabaletta Bio Show Potential for Durable Remission in Severe Lupus

Home
/
insight
/
details

What is microsatellite instability companion diagnostic?

NextEdge Admin

19 Sep 2023

3 min 46 sec

A microsatellite instability (MSI) companion diagnostic is a critical tool in the field of oncology that plays a pivotal role in tailoring cancer treatment strategies to individual patients. It involves assessing the presence or absence of microsatellite instability in a patient’s tumor tissue. This assessment is essential because microsatellite instability can significantly influence a tumor’s behavior and response to treatment.

Microsatellites are short, repetitive sequences of DNA scattered throughout the human genome. In normal cells, these sequences are relatively stable, maintaining their length over time. However, in some cases, errors occur in the DNA repair mechanisms, leading to microsatellite instability. This instability manifests as variations in the lengths of these repetitive sequences within the tumor’s DNA.

The implications of MSI in cancer are profound. High levels of microsatellite instability can lead to increased genetic mutations within the tumor, potentially making it more aggressive and resistant to treatment. This phenomenon has been particularly well-documented in colorectal cancer, where MSI-high tumors are a distinct subgroup with specific clinical characteristics.

Companion diagnostics are tests designed to identify specific biomarkers or genetic alterations in a patient’s tumor tissue. In the context of MSI, companion diagnostics assess the MSI status of the tumor. Detecting MSI is crucial for several reasons:

Treatment Selection: Knowing the MSI status of a tumor can guide oncologists in choosing the most appropriate treatment approach. For instance, MSI-high tumors have shown significant responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy. Therefore, identifying MSI-high tumors through companion diagnostics can help oncologists decide whether immunotherapy should be incorporated into the treatment plan.
Prognosis: MSI status can also provide insights into a patient’s prognosis. MSI-high tumors may have different clinical outcomes compared to MSI-stable tumors. Companion diagnostics can assist in risk stratification and help patients and healthcare providers make informed decisions regarding treatment and follow-up.
Clinical Trials: MSI status is becoming increasingly important in clinical trial enrollment. Pharmaceutical companies often design trials specifically for patients with MSI-high tumors, and companion diagnostics are used to identify eligible participants.
Personalized Medicine: Companion diagnostics exemplify the principles of personalized medicine, tailoring treatments to the unique characteristics of a patient’s tumor. This approach maximizes the chances of therapeutic success while minimizing unnecessary side effects from treatments that may not be effective.

Related Tags

microsatellite

Harnessing the power of genomics to deliver right treatment to right patient at right time!

Multiomic approach in precision medicine

Top Reviews

No reviews yet