Roche Diagnostics’ genomic testing paves the way for personalised cancer care

Diagnostics & MedTech News: Increased adoption of personalised medicine has brought comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) to the forefront. Monash Health Pathology’s implementation of pan-cancer genomic testing has positioned the team at the cutting edge of cancer care.

This pioneering service recently received accreditation from the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), marking a significant milestone that validates the quality and precision of its genetic testing processes.

“We started molecular work at Monash Health in 2023. We have grown so fast. It has been amazing,” said Dr Beena Kumar, Program Director of Pathology at Monash Health.

The service utilises Roche Diagnostics’ Avenio pan-cancer genomic test, which screens nearly 400 cancer-related genes for patients diagnosed with tumours.

The comprehensive data derived from the Avenio test enables oncologists to develop highly personalised treatment plans tailored to each patient’s genetic profile, a crucial step towards more effective treatments with fewer side effects and improved outcomes. These results also help identify patients who may qualify for clinical trials.

“Clinical trials are based on the presence or absence of mutations. If a patient has a mutation, then they can go into a particular clinical trial. We include in our reports the trials they are eligible to get into,” explained Dr Kumar.

However, equity of access to genomic services and preserving individual choice in treatment options remains a challenge as there is no nationally consistent approach to decisions about what genomic services are funded and for which groups within the population.

Last week, Monash Health and Roche Diagnostics celebrated the launch of the Avenio genomic test. The event kicked off with an opening address from Associate Professor Daniel Gough from the Hudson Institute of Medical Research. Professor Beena Kumar and Dr Pranav Dorwal from Monash Health introduced the newly accredited genomic panel, while Dr Ravikiran Vedururu detailed the rigorous validation process that led to the NATA accreditation.

The event also featured presentations showcasing the clinical impact of the new diagnostics. Associate Professor Alamgeer Muhammad and Daniel Croagh from Monash Health presented case studies that highlighted the benefits of next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays in improving patient care.

Dr Paul Yeh further demonstrated the potential of NGS technology, focusing on its use of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) to predict treatment outcomes in cases where traditional biopsies are challenging. The evening concluded with Dr Hiren Sheth from Roche Diagnostics Australia, who presented on the tools used to generate reliable genomic insights.

“The integration of these complex technologies has provided valuable educational opportunities, enabling our teams to continuously expand their knowledge and expertise in cutting-edge genomic medicine,” said Dr Ravikiran Vedururu, Lead Technical Scientist in Diagnostic Genomics at Monash Health.

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