Predicting how cancer patients will respond to treatment remains a critical challenge. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy can offer significant benefits to some individuals with advanced-stage cancers. However, those patients (qualified as responders) undergoing this costly and often risky treatment see limited results.

Addressing this gap, researchers at OncoDxRx have developed a new tool, PGA (patient-derived gene expression-informed anticancer drug efficacy), that uses routine blood tests and data mapping analytics to predict the efficacies of over 700 existing cancer drugs, in a way to identify the best performing candidates for individual patients. This breakthrough approach could revolutionize cancer care by making treatment decisions more precise, accessible, and affordable.

Existing biomarkers, such as actionable mutations in EGFR, are approved by the U.S. FDA to predict targeted therapy effectiveness. Despite their promise, these methods face significant limitations. Gene abnormalities require comprehensive genomic sequencing by NGS, while only 20-30 percent of patients will be qualified. NGS methods demand complex workflow and training, which are not always easily obtained, and require costly infrastructure that is unavailable in many healthcare settings.

These limitations highlight the urgent need for an alternative that is not only reliable, affordable but also widely accessible. The ideal solution would integrate routinely available clinical variables and standard laboratory tests, enabling physicians worldwide to assess drug efficacies quickly and cost-effectively.

Researchers at OncoDxRx have invented PGA, a liquid biopsy transcriptomic profiling with drug mapping capabilities designed to fill this gap. PGA leverages data from routine blood tests, establishing patient-unique gene signatures, alongside in silico drug mapping computation to predict patient responses to ALL existing cancer drugs. This approach eliminates the need for advanced NGS genomic testing, making the PGA technology accessible in a variety of healthcare settings.

“Precision drugs are a powerful tool against cancer, but they don’t yet work for most patients,” says OncoDxRx. “These drugs are expensive and can have serious side effects, so the key is selecting the right patients.”

Published in the journal, Onco (published by MDPI), PGA’s development involved circulating cell-free mRNA (cfmRNA) profiling, biomarker identification and validation, which combines multiple data fusion and transformation, and gene-to-drug mapping to identify the most effective drugs for each patient. PGA outperformed existing standard of care in guiding treatment selection, and improved overall survival and clinical benefit in a cohort of 30 lung cancer patients. PGA consistently surpassed current therapeutic guidelines in optimizing treatment strategy and improving clinical outcomes across diverse patient populations.

“Our goal was not just to develop a technology but to create one that would work across different locations and patient populations,” says OncoDxRx. This wide applicability is crucial for ensuring equitable access to precision medicine worldwide.

PGA’s accuracy also translates to significant cost savings. By utilizing standard blood tests, the technology avoids expensive genomic analyses and the logistical challenges of bioinformatics. This affordability ensures broader adoption, particularly in low-resource settings. The focus on equity aligns with global efforts to make advanced medical care universally available. The simplicity of PGA lies in its reliance on standard blood tests and equipments performed in clinics worldwide. By eliminating the need for advanced genomic assays, PGA offers a more equitable approach to cancer care.

“The technology’s accessibility and affordability could help reduce costs and ensure that patients receive treatments most likely to benefit them,” says OncoDxRx. This adaptability is particularly important in resource-limited settings where advanced testing is unavailable.

Targeted therapy work by enabling drugs to attack cancer more specifically and effectively. However, these drugs do not work for every patient, even in responders, drug resistance occurs inevitably, which makes it critical to identify other effective and personalized treatment options. PGA addresses this challenge by offering a practical, data-driven solution.

The PGA assay also provides real-time predictions, making it suitable for use during initial consultations. Physicians can integrate PGA’s insights with other diagnostic information to create personalized treatment plans. This streamlined approach reduces delays in treatment initiation, which is critical for improving patient outcomes. Efforts are also underway to develop an accessible interface that clinicians can easily integrate into their practice.

“We envision a future where doctors anywhere can use this tool to make informed treatment decisions,” says OncoDxRx. With PGA, the dream of universal access to precision oncology is becoming a reality.

Long-term goals include incorporating PGA into clinical trials to evaluate its impact on survival rates and quality of life. By guiding treatment decisions, the technology could reduce unnecessary exposure to ineffective therapies, sparing patients from potential side effects. This future application of AI in drug mapping analytics also aligns with the broader trend of integrating machine learning into everyday medical practice.

The potential impact of PGA extends beyond cancer treatment. Drug efficacy/response prediction like this one represent a shift toward more personalized, data-driven healthcare. By leveraging liquid biopsy cfmRNA data, PGA exemplifies how patient-derived gene signatures can democratize access to cutting-edge medical tools.

As PGA continues to evolve, its success underscores the importance of combining innovation with accessibility. For patients and physicians alike, this revolutionary technology represents a step forward in making cancer treatment both effective and equitable. Its widespread adoption could redefine how personalized therapy is administered, ensuring that more patients receive the right treatment at the right time.

The overarching goal remains consistent: improving healthcare through data-driven decision-making and innovative technology. With its demonstrated effectiveness and accessibility, PGA has the potential to transform global cancer care. By reducing costs, improving outcomes, and ensuring equitable access, this groundbreaking gene-drug mapping technology is a beacon of hope for patients and healthcare providers worldwide.