Methods for Assessing the Treatment Response of Cancer Patients and for Treating Cancer Patients by Analysing Cpg Methylation

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention provides a method for monitoring how cancer patients respond to treatment by measuring the methylation status of CpG sites in the shox2 gene, particularly in free-circulating DNA from blood samples. By tracking changes in shox2 methylation over time, clinicians can more quickly and accurately determine if a patient is responding to therapy, allowing them to optimize treatment plans sooner than with conventional imaging methods.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Real-time monitoring of cancer treatment efficacy in lung cancer and other cancers where shox2 methylation is relevant.
• Identifying whether a patient is a responder or non-responder to a specific cancer therapy soon after treatment begins.
• Guiding personalized therapy adjustments for patients based on early molecular feedback, potentially switching treatments before conventional imaging shows a response.
• Supporting clinical decision-making in oncology for various types and stages of cancer, including advanced or metastatic diseases.
• Non-invasive liquid biopsy via blood tests to monitor cancer dynamics instead of relying solely on tissue biopsies or imaging.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Allows for earlier detection of treatment effectiveness or failure compared to standard imaging (like CT or MRI), enabling quicker treatment changes.
• Non-invasive; requires only blood or other body fluid samples rather than surgical biopsies.
• High sensitivity and specificity for detecting early molecular changes in cancer dynamics.
• Applicable to a wide range of cancers, with particular utility in lung cancer.
• Enables personalized medicine by tailoring therapy sooner to the molecular response of the individual patient.
• Potentially improves patient outcomes by optimizing use of the therapeutic window and reducing exposure to ineffective treatments.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of pharmacogenomics and in particular to assessing the response of a cancer patient to a treatment by analysing CpG methylation in the shox2 gene. Depending on the result of the analysis, the treatment can be continued or altered, thereby exploiting the therapeutic window better than conventional methods of assessing a treatment response.