Test Predicts Chemotherapy Resistance in Cancer Patients
A groundbreaking test is changing cancer treatment by predicting which patients won’t respond to chemotherapy. This allows doctors to avoid ineffective treatments and manage side effects, offering a significant advance in personalized cancer care.
Predicting Chemotherapy Response
Researchers have devised a test to determine if cancer will resist common chemotherapy treatments. This new method was developed by a team from Cancer Research UK, in collaboration with the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) and the startup Tailor Bio. This collaborative effort highlights a shared mission against cancer.
Geoff Macintyre, head of the Computational Oncology Group at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), explained the problem: “Chemotherapy is good for some patients, but it’s not effective in all cases. Between 20 and 50% of cancer patients don’t respond to these drugs. These patients will suffer the side effects caused by chemotherapy without any clinical benefit.”
The research is published in Nature Genetics.
Unnecessary Treatment Avoidance
The test analyzes chromosomal changes in tumor cells, which Laura Madrid, first author, noted, leads to cancer cells [not having] the correct amount of genetic material.
The researchers then used these chromosome patterns to create biomarkers. These biomarkers can identify patients who will likely resist chemotherapy.
This advancement avoids unnecessary treatments and side effects, bringing relief to patients. For instance, in 2024, it was estimated that approximately 20% of cancer patients experience severe side effects from chemotherapy, highlighting the need for this predictive tool (Cancer Statistics 2024).
How the Test Works
Professor James Brenton, Professor of Ovarian Cancer Medicine at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, commented on the approach. Chemotherapy is a mainstay of cancer treatment and saves many lives. Yet, in many cases, it has been administered the same way for over 40 years. Sadly, there are too many cases where cancer is resistant to chemotherapy treatment – meaning unpleasant side effects for the patient with limited benefit to them.
The test’s validation was done with data from 800 cancer patients. They were classified as “chemotherapy resistant” or “chemotherapy sensitive” based on the test results. This approach simulated a trial, helping the scientists predict responses without modifying the patients’ treatments.
The test successfully predicted resistance to common chemotherapies. These were platinum-based, anthracycline, and taxane chemotherapy. The trial revealed treatment failure rates for certain cancer types, which the test correctly predicted.
Our technology makes sense of the genomic chaos seen in many tumours treated with chemotherapy. It links patterns of DNA mutation to the mechanisms that caused the damage. This provides a read-out of the defective biology in the tumour, which we can use to predict resistance to the mechanism of action of common chemotherapies.”—Dr. Geoff Macintyre, Lead Author, Group Leader at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) and CSO at Tailor Bio
Dr. Ania Piskorz, co-lead author and Head of Genomics at Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, added: It was important to us to create a test that could be easily adopted in the clinic, using material we already collect during diagnosis and well-established genomic sequencing methods. The test is based on the full DNA sequence that we get from these methods, and we can adapt it to work alongside other genomic sequencing methods that are commonly used to personalise treatment for cancer.
This new test represents a considerable advancement in cancer treatment by offering a more personalized and effective approach. Its clinical integration has the potential to enhance patient outcomes and reduce healthcare burdens.
