Roche aims to improve cancer treatments with DNA blood test

The test known as FoundationOne Liquid can identify circulating tumour DNA in the blood of people living with cancer and identify the genes including microsatellite instability, a genomic signature that can help inform decisions about treatments based on cancer immunotherapy.

Merck & Co’s cancer immunotherapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is already approved in patients with cancers with the high microsatellite instability (MSI-high) signature, and Roche is developing its own immunotherapy Tecentriq (atezolizumab) in combination with Avastin (bevacizumab) in MSI-high colorectal cancer.

Roche said that the new test will allow a quick and convenient option for some patients with solid tumours.

The Swiss company said there is a "compelling need" for the test in cancers where it is impractical to get a tissue biopsy.

For instance in non-small cell lung cancer, around 15% of patients are not eligible for tissue biopsy and approximately 10% have a biopsy size that is insufficient to evaluate.

FoundationOne Liquid complements Roche’s FoundationOne CDx, a tissue-based genomic profiling test launched in the US earlier this year, as part of a portfolio of genomic tests.

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