Molecular profiling of ovarian cancer is feasible and provides valuable therapeutic and research information to women in Aotearoa New Zealand.

AIM: Molecular profiling of ovarian cancer is feasible and provides valuable therapeutic and research information to women in Aotearoa New Zealand.

METHOD: Sixteen women consecutively diagnosed with apparent advanced ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer underwent molecular profiling as part of INOVATe (Individualised Ovarian Cancer Treatment through Integration of Genomic Pathology into Multidisciplinary Care), an ovarian cancer precision medicine programme conducted in New South Wales, Australia.

RESULTS

All eligible women who were approached agreed to participate in the study. Molecular profiling was successfully undertaken on tumour tissue samples stored after primary surgery and in two of three core biopsy samples. Six of 9 women (67%) with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma had tumour samples classified as having homologous recombination deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) repair deficiency, an alteration that predicts response to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors. Overall, 7/15 (47%) with a sample available for testing had a tier 1 molecular alteration, indicating the potential for a Food and Drug Administration-approved therapy. Additional potentially targetable alterations included CCNE1 gene amplification in two patients with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, and PIK3CA mutations in two patients with clear cell ovarian cancer.

CONCLUSION

Molecular profiling of ovarian cancer is feasible and provides valuable information that can guide available therapeutic options and selection into clinical trials.