Leumeta - A New Leukemia/Lymphoma Test

While conventional tests look for cancer cells in bone marrow or, in certain cases, peripheral blood, LEUMETA cancer assays track genetic components of leukemia and lymphoma tumors, including messenger RNA, DNA and protein in blood plasma the liquid portion of the blood. Studies performed at Quest Diagnostics and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting in December 2005 showed that information about tumor load and blood cancer markers of leukemia and lymphoma tumors is contained in blood plasma. Sample collection for these LEUMETA assays does not require the painful extraction of bone marrow cells with a large-bore needle through the hipbone. Using these tests, doctors can get a more frequent indication of a patients disease status and decide whether to alter their treatment, explained Francis Giles, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Chief of Developmental Therapeutics within the Department of Leukemia at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. In an era of increasing focus on targeted therapies, the ability to sequentially obtain so much data from blood plasma specimens is a major help in optimally using the available therapies, and in assessing the efficacy of novel agents. To obtain this data without the need for bone marrow tissue is a major advance. Developed by a team of researchers at Quest Diagnostics using licensed technology discovered by one of the researchers while previously at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, LEUMETA cancer assays are available to physicians and oncology programs nationwide through Quest Diagnostics.