The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has initiated the myeloMATCH trial, a precision medicine study designed to align treatments for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with the unique genetic profiles of their cancers. Funded by the NIH’s National Cancer Institute (NCI), this proof-of-concept trial seeks to enroll thousands of participants in its initial years, with plans to launch additional sub-studies over time.
Trial Design and Objectives
Patients newly diagnosed with AML or MDS will undergo comprehensive genetic testing of their tumor samples. Based on the molecular characteristics identified, patients will be assigned to sub-studies that test treatments tailored to specific genetic changes observed in their cancer. If a suitable sub-study is unavailable, patients will receive standard treatment.
If the initial sub-study treatment demonstrates disease reduction, further genetic testing will be conducted to match patients to subsequent sub-studies. These subsequent studies will test treatments appropriate for the genetic changes associated with any remaining disease. According to the NIH, investigators will employ increasingly sensitive tools to pinpoint and treat any remaining cancer cells as the patient's disease diminishes.
Expert Insights
Dr. Richard Little, managing director of NCI’s division of cancer treatment and diagnosis and NCI coordinator for the myeloMATCH trial, emphasized the heterogeneity of AML and MDS. "AML and MDS are a heterogeneous group of cancers that can progress very quickly. Treatment advances depend in part on the ability to rapidly identify which subtype of cancer each patient has so that treatments can be tested for their specific cancer," he stated.
"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," the NIH stated.
Collaboration and Expansion
The NCI’s National Clinical Trials Network is conducting the myeloMATCH trial in collaboration with the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). Initial sub-studies are being spearheaded by research groups, including the SWOG Cancer Research Network and the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.
myeloMATCH joins other NIH precision medicine trials, including ComboMATCH, which assesses the effectiveness of new drug combinations targeting specific tumor alterations in adults and children with relapsed solid tumors, and ImmunoMATCH, a pilot study evaluating whether characterizing a tumor's immune status can improve responses to targeted immunotherapy treatments.
Building on Previous Research
These trials build upon the foundation laid by NCI-MATCH, a three-year trial that concluded last year. NCI-MATCH demonstrated that genomic sequencing could benefit individuals with advanced cancer by informing treatment planning.
Cancer Moonshot Initiative
Danielle Carnival, deputy assistant to the President for the Cancer Moonshot, highlighted the government's commitment to expanding access to trials like myeloMATCH. The Cancer Moonshot initiative, launched by President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in 2022, aims to reduce the cancer mortality rate and prevent four million deaths by 2047 by bringing new targeted treatments to cancer patients.
