The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched the Myeloid Malignancies Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice (myeloMATCH) clinical trial, a precision medicine initiative designed to improve treatment outcomes for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the trial seeks to identify and test targeted treatment combinations based on the specific genetic profiles of individual patients' cancers.
Trial Design and Objectives
MyeloMATCH will enroll patients with newly diagnosed AML or MDS, who will undergo rapid genetic testing of their tumor samples. Based on the results, patients will be assigned to a substudy evaluating a treatment regimen tailored to their specific genetic mutations. If a suitable substudy is not available, patients will receive standard treatment. The trial will also assess treatments for patients whose disease has decreased but still has detectable remaining cancer cells.
The primary goal of myeloMATCH is to accelerate the development of personalized treatments for these aggressive blood and bone marrow cancers. "The goal of myeloMATCH is to test combinations of drugs to treat the disease in a highly targeted way and to be able to start treatment quickly after diagnosis," said Richard F. Little, MD, of NCI’s Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis.
Enrollment and Data Collection
The myeloMATCH trial aims to enroll several thousand participants over the next few years, with new substudies being added over time. Researchers will collect blood and bone marrow samples from participants to develop and refine assays, as well as to identify genetic changes associated with treatment resistance.
Collaborative Effort
MyeloMATCH is being conducted by the National Clinical Trials Network, with participation from the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). Initial substudies will be led by the SWOG Cancer Research Network, the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and the Canadian Cancer Trials Group. Clinical laboratory support will be provided by the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Broader Precision Medicine Initiatives
MyeloMATCH is one of three next-generation precision medicine trials underway at NCI. ComboMATCH is evaluating new drug combinations targeting specific tumor alterations in adults and children with relapsed solid tumors. ImmunoMATCH is assessing whether characterizing the immune status of a tumor can improve responses to targeted immunotherapy treatments. These trials build upon the foundation of NCI-MATCH, which demonstrated the potential benefits of genomic sequencing in guiding cancer treatment decisions.
Impact and Future Directions
"By making these trials available to patients in communities around the country, we bring cutting edge science to people where they live and ensure that what we learn from our study participants can benefit patients like them in the future," said W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, director of NCI. The myeloMATCH trial represents a significant step forward in the effort to personalize cancer treatment and improve outcomes for patients with myeloid malignancies.
