Quest launches "most comprehensive" colorectal cancer gene test
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Quest Diagnostics has launched its EGFR Pathway test for mutations that affect colorectal cancer patients' response to EGFR-inhibiting drugs, such as Amgen's Vectibix. Quest's product detects mutations in the KRAS, NRAS and BRAF genes, whereas similar tests only identify KRAS mutations. These are found in around 40% of colorectal cancer patients, and are associated with a poor response to EGFR inhibitors. However, these drugs are not effective in all patients with normal KRAS – 5% and 8% of patients with normal KRAS genes are thought to carry NRAS and BRAF mutations, respectively, which are also linked to a poor response. Madison, New Jersey-based Quest claims that EGFR Pathway provides the most comprehensive data available on KRAS, NRAS and BRAF mutations from a single test.