Most clinical genetic tests are unable to accurately detect HR deficiency, according to the release, which can be treated with PARP inhibitors, a type of medication used most commonly to treat breast cancer patients with BRCA mutations.
“We suspect there are many more patients without BRCA mutations who could benefit from PARP inhibitors, but doctors do not know which ones they are. Our approach could help close that gap,” Peter Park, PhD, professor of biomedical informatics at HMS’s Blavatnik Institute, said in a statement.
In tests, the new algorithm, called SigMA, correctly identified 74 percent of cell samples with HR deficiency, compared to other screening systems that typically identify HR-deficient cancer cells with only 30 to 40 percent accuracy.
“Pinpointing actionable genetic biomarkers and treating patients with drugs that specifically target the relevant cancer-driving pathways is at the heart of precision medicine. We believe our algorithm can greatly enhance physicians’ ability to deliver such individualized therapy,” Dr. Park said.
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