A new study published in JAMA Network Open by Tempus AI, Inc. reveals that concurrent RNA and DNA sequencing significantly improves the detection of actionable structural variants in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The retrospective analysis of over 5,500 NSCLC patients highlights the clinical benefits of combining RNA and DNA sequencing for enhanced precision in cancer diagnostics and treatment.
Enhanced Variant Detection with Combined Sequencing
The study demonstrated that using both RNA- and DNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) led to the detection of a greater number of actionable structural variants compared to DNA sequencing alone. Specifically, 8.8% of patients exhibited at least one actionable variant, such as ALK, RET, ROS1, or NTRK1/2/3 fusions, or MET exon 14 skipping alterations, identified through one or both assays. The concurrent use of RNA and DNA sequencing resulted in a 15.3% increase in the identification of patients with actionable variants. Furthermore, the detection of emerging, rare structural variants more than doubled compared to DNA sequencing alone.
Clinical Implications and Expert Commentary
"This large study underscores the importance of using both RNA- and DNA-based comprehensive genomic profiling as a standard of care in advanced NSCLC, and more broadly in solid tumors," said Halla Nimeiri, MD, Chief Development Officer at Tempus. She added, "By integrating RNA and DNA sequencing, we can detect a wider range of actionable alterations that might otherwise go undetected by DNA testing alone. This combined approach enhances clinicians' ability to provide more personalized treatment options for patients."
Methodology and Study Details
The retrospective study analyzed data from over 5,500 patients with advanced NSCLC. The researchers compared the results of concurrent RNA- and DNA-based NGS to those obtained from DNA sequencing alone. The primary endpoint was the detection rate of actionable structural variants, including gene fusions and exon skipping alterations. The study's findings suggest that concurrent RNA and DNA testing should be more widely adopted in clinical settings to improve the detection of structural variants and inform treatment decisions.
About Tempus
Tempus is a technology company focused on advancing precision medicine through the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare. With a vast library of multimodal data and an operating system designed to make this data accessible and useful, Tempus provides AI-enabled precision medicine solutions to physicians, facilitating personalized patient care and accelerating the discovery, development, and delivery of optimal therapeutics.
