The National Comprehensive Cancer Network updated its guidelines to include fluid-based testing for certain inoperable brain tumors.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) updated its clinical practice guidelines regarding the characterization and treatment of central nervous system (CNS) cancers. The update expands recommendations for using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-based molecular tumor profiling to include inoperable high-grade gliomas and glioblastomas, according to a release from Belay Diagnostics, which offers validated, CSF-specific tests for CNS malignancies, Summit 2.0, Ascent, and Vantage.
The recommendation applies regardless of the reason for inoperability, including patient health, refusal, or the location of the mass. It is specifically suggested for cases where molecular profiling is required for a diagnosis or to determine appropriate therapy. This update marks the second consecutive year NCCN has expanded the use of CSF-based molecular profiling to include new malignancies.
Previous iterations of the guidelines recommended CSF molecular testing for adult patients with medulloblastoma, spinal and cranial ependymoma, CNS lymphoma, and leptomeningeal metastasis. Using liquid biopsy allows for tumor profiling to guide care for inoperable patients who might otherwise be treated based on imaging or cytology, says Belay Diagnostics in a release.
Belay Diagnostics’ The Summit 2.0 genomic profiling panel demonstrated 96% clinical sensitivity and 98% clinical specificity compared to tissue samples, according to research published in the journal Cancers.
The new guidelines suggest that pathologic characterization of CNS tumors be performed using multi-gene panel testing to assay multiple biomarkers with a single test. Each of the Belay Diagnostics tests can be performed on a single specimen and are currently available for patients, including those for whom surgery is not an option.
The expansion of these recommendations makes it clear that characterization in CNS cancer is evolving to include novel tools, according to a release from Belay Diagnostics.
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