What to Know About Molecular Testing for Gliomas
- Molecular testing is essential for identifying IDH mutations in gliomas, which can help guide treatment decisions for patients.
- Gliomas with an IDH mutation tend to grow more slowly, and patients with these tumors can benefit from targeted therapies like an IDH inhibitor called Vorasidenib.
- Testing methods like antibody staining and molecular sequencing allow doctors to determine if the mutation is present.
- By identifying these mutations, doctors can offer more personalized and effective treatments, improving outcomes and quality of life for patients.
- Molecular testing has become widely available and is typically covered by insurance for glioma patients.
Before doctors can decide if a patient might benefit from targeted treatments like IDH inhibitors, drugs that target the IDH mutant protein, molecular testing (advanced testing done on tumors to determine specific features) is needed to identify whether the tumor has this mutation. This testing is a crucial step toward providing personalized, more effective treatment for patients with gliomas.
What is Molecular Testing?
Read MoreHow is Molecular Testing Done?
Molecular testing is typically performed on a sample of tumor tissue. This tissue is obtained from either surgery or a biopsy. Pathologists conduct the testing; these doctors are specially trained to study the characteristics of tumor tissues.
Molecular testing is widely available throughout the country, making it accessible to most patients diagnosed with gliomas.
What Types of Molecular Testing Are There?
Several molecular testing techniques are used on tissue samples. One method is antibody staining, where pathologists “stain the tumor with an antibody to look for the presence of the IDH mutant protein,” Dr. Miller explains. Tumors without the mutation will not be visible with the stain. However, tumors that have the IDH mutation will stain or show a color that pathologists can recognize. This is a very common technique pathologists use for many tumor types.
Another method is molecular sequencing, which Dr. Miller explains is a process where doctors examine the DNA of the tumor cells to find specific changes or mutations in the genes. Both techniques can confirm whether the IDH mutation is present in the tumor cells.
Why Molecular Testing is Important for Gliomas
Identifying whether a glioma has an IDH mutation is crucial because it can significantly impact treatment options and outcomes.
It is also useful to better understand how a tumor will behave over time and can help manage expectations and prognosis. Targeted therapies, like IDH inhibitors, can slow tumor growth even further in patients with this mutation. Without molecular testing, doctors wouldn’t know if these treatments are suitable for their patients.
As Dr. Miller stresses, molecular testing “should be performed on every glioma.”
Molecular testing for IDH mutations is transforming how gliomas are treated. By determining whether a tumor carries the IDH mutation, doctors can offer FDA-approved targeted therapies like Vorasidenib, which Dr. Miller calls a “huge breakthrough” that slows the progression of the disease. This personalized approach marks an exciting advancement in the fight against gliomas, giving patients new hope and better treatment options.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a glioma be sure to discuss molecular testing with your treating team.
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