A newly launched test offers a less invasive option for patients with suspected multiple myeloma (MM), using blood or bone marrow to identify genomic changes that guide diagnosis and treatment. Called GenoPredicta for bone marrow or blood, the assay uses whole genome sequencing to detect mutations linked to disease risk and therapy response, providing an alternative to bone marrow biopsies and FISH.
“Historically, diagnosing hematological malignancies has required bone marrow biopsies, which are intrusive and painful for patients, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) tests, which lack accuracy and reproducibility across labs, and are unable to detect some of the key molecular hallmarks of these types of cancers,” said Irene Ghobrial, MD, co-founder of Predicta, the manufacturer of the test. “Our new GenoPredicta test aims to overcome the many limitations in the diagnosis and prognosis of multiple myeloma, plasma cell malignancies and other blood cancers, and ultimately optimize treatment decisions for patients throughout their disease journey.”
GenoPredicta works by sequencing the entire genome from a blood or bone marrow sample to detect genetic alterations associated with MM, including mutations and biomarkers. The test has previously been used in research settings at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to support risk assessment and evaluate response to therapies.
