Predictive Analytics Flags Gynecologic Cancer Relapse in Patients

Nagourney Cancer Institute researchers in collaboration with the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, University of California, Irvine, and Todd Cancer Institute discovered metabolic signatures in the blood of gynecologic cancer patients that can inform predictive analytics to flag relapse risk.

The paper was published by Gynecologic Oncology.

According to researchers, the results potentially indicate a future in which oncologists could do a blood test at the time of diagnosis to improve the care of patients with advanced gynecologic malignancies.

Platinum resistance, defined as the lack of response or evidence of clinical relapse within six months of platinum-based chemotherapy, is critical for gynecologic cancer survival.

“We used quantitative Mass Spectrometry to identify metabolic signatures that predict platinum resistance in patients receiving chemotherapy for ovarian and uterinecancers,” Founder and Medical Director of the Nagourney Cancer Institute Robert Nagourney, MD, said in a press release.

“The study provides a window into human biology that offers the opportunity for better patient outcomes and more rapid and efficient drug targeting.”

As research on human metabolism and cancer biology continues to grow, this gynecologic cancer study is the most recent of several analyses on breast cancer, multiple myeloma, and other cancers that confirms metabolomics’ role as one of the most promising platforms in cancer research.  

In the study, 47 patients with adenocarcinoma of the ovary or uterus who were also candidates for carboplatin and paclitaxel submitted their blood for quantitation of metabolites and surgical specimen for the isolation of 3-dimensional organoids used to measure individual patient’s platinum resistance, ex vivo.

Of the 47 participants, 27 achieved complete remission with a mean time to progression of 1.9 years, disease-free survival of 1.7 years, and overall survival of 2.6 years.

The results were then correlated with response, time to progression, and survival. Through the study, the researchers identified patients with the highest risk of relapse and death with a sensitivity of 92 percent and specificity of 86 percent.

“With such insight, we are on the cusp of more accurately determining the best course of treatment for those with gynecologic tumors,” said Nagourney.

If oncologists can determine beforehand that platinum-based chemotherapy is unlikely to work for certain patients, physicians know to pursue other treatment options. More rapid and efficient drug targeting can be crucial in helping patients who may not have time to try multiple treatment plans and options.

Metabolic signatures in gynecologic cancer can identify patients at high risk of release and death, creating new diagnostic and predictive tools for management. These tools will be crucial in improve care quality and patient outcomes.