Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science, is proud to announce its partnership with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) on the myeloMATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice) precision medicine umbrella trial. This collaboration aims to accelerate research and develop new treatments for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). Utilizing Thermo Fisher’s next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, the trial will test patients' bone marrow and blood for genetic biomarkers, enabling quicker matching of patients with appropriate clinical trials across North America.

myeloMATCH Precision Medicine Clinical Trial Leverages Next-Day Genomic Testing to Quickly Match Patients with Appropriate Trials Across North America (Photo: Business Wire)

AML, a fast-progressing cancer of the bone marrow and blood, has a five-year survival rate of only 30-40% for individuals under 60. Rapid detection and effective treatment are crucial to improving patient outcomes. Clinical practice guidelines emphasize the importance of swift genetic analysis to identify biomarkers that can help match patients with the most suitable treatments based on their unique cancer profiles.

“myeloMATCH breaks new ground in many ways, not least by assembling a portfolio of sub-studies to treat patients with specific subtypes of AML and MDS through all stages of their treatment journey,” said Dr. Harry P. Erba, chair of the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) Leukemia Committee and co-chair of the myeloMATCH Senior Science Council. “Many more treatment options are available for people with AML and MDS than just 5-10 years ago, and many more targeted therapies are being developed. However, to choose the best treatment option for our patients requires knowledge of the genetic changes that underly the disease, which vary between patients. This information is needed quickly in order to begin effective therapy for very aggressive cancers. Our partnership with Thermo Fisher allows us to obtain the required genomic profiling rapidly and begin therapies specific for each subtype of the disease. Through this personalized approach to treatment, we believe we will increase the number of people who are leukemia survivors."

The study aims to complete genomic testing and deliver results within a few days across testing modalities to quickly enroll patients into sub-studies based on their biomarker profiles at diagnosis. The Ion Torrent™ Genexus™ System*, the first turnkey NGS solution automating the specimen-to-report workflow to deliver results in a single day with just two user touchpoints, will accelerate the process of matching patients with suitable clinical trials.

myeloMATCH will operate in the U.S. and Canadian sites of the NCI National Clinical Trials Network, encompassing over 2,200 locations. Additionally, the NCI’s Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis has developed cooperative agreements with various pharmaceutical companies to provide different drugs supporting myeloMATCH. Conducting multiple treatment sub-studies specific to genomic types, myeloMATCH may fuel the development of promising new therapies.

“myeloMATCH is an immense step forward for patients with aggressive and rapidly advancing cancers who need better treatment options,” said John Sos, senior vice president and president, life sciences solutions at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Using the Genexus System, clinical teams across sites can quickly match eligible patients with the right trials to ultimately better understand the clinical impact of these therapies. By helping to expedite this process, we can ensure that more patients have access to appropriate precision oncology treatments.”

Patient samples will be sequenced in the myeloMATCH Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory Network (MDNet) using the Genexus System and reagents along with the Oncomine-based NCI Myeloid Assay as part of an approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) to assign participants to myeloMATCH treatment studies. The MDNet sites at the Molecular Characterization Laboratory, part of the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Wash., are funded by NCI for this activity. As presented during the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting, the assay demonstrated high sensitivity and reproducibility between sites.