A new review published on the Cochrane Library has found that next-generation sequencing (NGS) could help guide matched targeted therapies for people with relapsed or metastatic cancer, delaying the progression of their cancer compared to standard treatments.
While matched targeted therapies (MTT) have proven effective in newly diagnosed cancer cases, their effectiveness in advanced cancer has not been clear. However, this new research, which analysed data from 37 randomised controlled trials involving nearly 10,000 participants, demonstrates that a wider group of cancer patients can also benefit from NGS-guided targeted therapies.
Dr Farasat Kazmi, Senior Oncology Registrar at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and lead author of the study, said that patients with late-stage cancer were previously considered unsuitable for targeted therapies. The review assessed whether matched targeted therapies using tumour genetic profiling provided better clinical outcomes than standard-of-care treatments.
He said: “We have performed the largest and most comprehensive review to date, and it highlights the potential of genomic testing in guiding personalised cancer treatment. It clearly demonstrates that matched targeted therapies significantly improve progression-free survival by 35 to 40%. While the research points to promising clinical outcomes, there is still limited evidence on the long-term effects of MTT in terms of overall survival, quality of life, and severe adverse events.”