The cancer-fighting community now has the scientific and technological ability to bring personalized medicine to clinical research trials.
Today, when we look at cancer, we are not asking, “Where did it start in the patient’s body?” Rather, we ask, “What genetic mutations are driving this patient’s tumor to grow?” Our vision at Inova focuses on the personalized needs of each patient using new insights and methods of treatment.
NCI-MATCH Trial
A large national trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute opens today. This trial, called the NCI-MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice), is part of our response to the growing need for personalized medicine. It is a direct result of President Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative.
If successful, it will fundamentally change how we treat cancer: Instead of grouping patients by the type of cancer or tumor, we will group them based on their tumor mutation (which we will determine through a tumor biopsy). Then, we can study the success of various drugs with a higher degree of accuracy.
The Right Treatment, Right Away
We will assign each participating patient to one of the eventually 30 arms of the trial, each arm representing a different drug. The goal is to see if this new targeted “smart-bomb” approach treats cancer in a more effective and less costly way. If we already know a certain drug will or will not work on someone with certain genetics, then we won’t waste time and money prescribing the wrong treatment. In addition, the patient will not have to endure unnecessary side effects. The goal: Get the right treatment at the right dose for the right patient, right away.
Inova: A National Leader in Cancer Treatment
From a national perspective, NCI-MATCH is one of the most exciting studies we’ve ever done at Inova. It aligns with our vision of personalized, genomics-based healthcare. This trial will help us become a national leader in treating cancer on a personalized level. If this trial is a success, a decade from now we will be treating cancer very differently—and much more effectively.
Inova Loudoun Hospital scores an ‘A’ for 25 consecutive grading periods Fairfax, VA, May 1,…
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 50% of adults in…
Heather Perez Saiz, MA, LCSW, CCTSW, is the Independent Living Donor Advocate at Inova Fairfax…
Palak Shah, MD, MS Fairfax, VA — A research team at Inova Schar Heart and…
Jason Bonomo, MD, PhD, is a cardiologist at Inova Schar Heart and Vascular. Dr. Bonomo…
Update as of April 24, 2024: Inova’s structural heart team has now completed the first…
View Comments
Well said and right on!!!!
Indeed, very well said!!
Dr. Deeken, this is such an exciting study for Inova to be a part of!
with a solid genetic background, I am so interested in personalized treatment. I hope I could be involved in this medical region in the near future.