Lab21 Expands Cancer Gene Testing Service

Lab21 is expanding its cancer gene testing service and has now added an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation test to its existing range.

Recent drug licenses for Amgen and Merck Serono in the colorectal cancer area have highlighted the growing emergence of companion diagnostics as a prerequisite to drug prescription in order to tailor therapies to specific patients.

Both Vectibix™ and Erbitux™ require analysis of the KRAS gene in the tumor prior to therapy and Lab21 recently launched its KRAS mutational analysis service within the UK.

Other clinical data suggests that patients with mutations in their EGFR gene may also not respond to inhibitor drugs for the treatment of cancers because antibodies and small molecule drugs cannot bind to the receptor. This means the receptor is not inhibited, and treatments such as gefitinib and erlotinib may not work.

As some patients will not respond to these treatments the availability of companion diagnostic testing services allows more efficient patient management but can also be used to ensure limited health budgets are used effectively ensuring only patients who will benefit from a particular treatment will receive it.

The launch of the EGFR testing service builds on Lab21’s existing service which offers testing for mutations in the KRAS gene. Both tests were developed by DxS and have full regulatory approval in Europe.