Quest Diagnostics Debuts MelaNodal Predict™ Test, Personalizing Melanoma Risk Prediction to Help Patients Forgo Invasive Surgery

Rhea-AI Summary

Quest Diagnostics (DGX) launches MelaNodal Predict™, a gene expression test to aid melanoma treatment decisions. The test shows over 90% survival rate for low-risk patients. The partnership with SkylineDx aims to provide personalized care and reduce unnecessary surgeries.

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

The introduction of MelaNodal Predict by Quest Diagnostics represents a significant advancement in the personalized treatment landscape for melanoma. The test's ability to assess the risk of nodal metastasis through gene expression profiling is a leap forward in oncology diagnostics. Such tests can streamline the decision-making process for clinicians, potentially sparing patients from invasive procedures like sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) when deemed unnecessary.

From a research perspective, the test’s algorithm, developed in collaboration with SkylineDx and Mayo Clinic, appears to be a robust tool for stratifying patients based on their risk of metastasis. The reported survival rate of over 90 percent for low-risk patients is an encouraging statistic that underscores the test's potential clinical utility. However, it is crucial to consider the long-term accuracy of the test and the potential for false positives or negatives that could impact patient outcomes.

Moreover, the test's impact on healthcare resource allocation could be substantial. By potentially reducing the number of SLNB procedures, which carry a significant risk of complications, there is an opportunity for cost savings and improved patient quality of life. Long-term studies and real-world data will be essential to validate these benefits and ensure that the test's use aligns with best practices in melanoma treatment.

Health Economist

From an economic standpoint, the widespread adoption of MelaNodal Predict could lead to considerable cost savings for the healthcare system. With SLNB procedures costing thousands of dollars per patient, the ability to accurately predict which patients can avoid the surgery has direct financial implications. The reduction in unnecessary procedures not only benefits patients by minimizing exposure to potential surgical risks but also allows for more efficient use of healthcare resources.

However, the test's upfront costs and reimbursement by insurance companies will be critical factors in its adoption. The pricing strategy must strike a balance between accessibility for patients and profitability for Quest Diagnostics. Additionally, the long-term cost-effectiveness of the test will depend on its ability to accurately predict outcomes and reduce the incidence of costly metastatic disease management.

Market Research Analyst

The launch of MelaNodal Predict could have a positive impact on Quest Diagnostics' market position. Given the prevalence of melanoma in the United States, there is a substantial market for diagnostic tests that can improve treatment decisions. Quest’s national scale and extensive network provide a competitive advantage in terms of accessibility for patients and providers.

It will be important to monitor the market response to MelaNodal Predict, including adoption rates by dermatologists and oncologists. The test's reception and integration into treatment protocols could influence Quest Diagnostics' stock performance. Additionally, the collaboration with SkylineDx may enhance Quest's reputation for innovation in precision medicine, potentially attracting further partnerships and driving growth in their oncology portfolio.

Based on technology from SkylineDx, the test aims to aid treatment decisions for patients with the deadliest form of skin cancer

Patients classified as low-risk by MelaNodal Predict are shown to have survival rate of over 90 percent 

SECAUCUS, N.J., and SAN DIEGO, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the nation's leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced the launch of MelaNodal Predict™, a highly advanced predictive gene expression test to help personalize treatment decisions for patients with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer and one of the most common cancers in the United States.¹ Dermatologists and other providers nationwide may begin ordering the test today from Quest Diagnostics, as well as through Dermpath Diagnostics, Quest's subspecialty pathology business.

MelaNodal Predict is a lab-developed test validated by Quest Diagnostics and based on technology developed by SkylineDx, an oncology biotechnology company, alongside Mayo Clinic. The technology utilizes a combination analysis of patient age and tumor thickness with advanced gene expression profiling technology. MelaNodal Predict examines a patient's original diagnostic tumor biopsy and applies an algorithm to help providers identify patients with a low or high risk of nodal metastasis (melanoma that has spread to the lymph nodes).

This insight may help providers identify patients that could, with less risk, avoid a potentially unnecessary, expensive and invasive surgery called a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). If the algorithm classifies a patient as low risk, they may be able to choose to forgo the procedure. More than 8 in 10 patients who have an SLNB are negative for nodal metastasis, based on post-surgical analysis.²

"Melanoma test services are an important component of our broad portfolio of advanced oncology tests," said Kristie Dolan, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Oncology at Quest Diagnostics. "By leveraging our scale, we can provide MelaNodal Predict to patients and treating physicians across the country to support clinical decision making. The MelaNodal Predict test's results will help physicians identify their patient's risk of metastasis to assist in individualizing surgical decisions and patient management plans."

By reducing SLNB interventions, providers who utilize the test may be able to more effectively use healthcare resources and manage patient risk. It is estimated that patients who receive an SLNB have a greater than 10% risk of surgery-related complications including bleeding, infection and limb swelling.³ The test also provides insights on a patient's long-term outcome, as patients with a low-risk result have reported better survival rates. All studies of the algorithm utilized have reported minimal follow up after five years,⁴ and recent data from 6 US institutions shows that patients the algorithm classified as low risk have a survival rate of more than 90 percent.⁵

"This relationship between Quest and SkylineDx is a testament to the transformative impact that innovative collaborations can have in healthcare. SkylineDx's expertise in molecular diagnostics, coupled with Dermpath Diagnostics' leadership in dermatopathology, has elevated MelaNodal Predict to a new standard in personalized melanoma care," said Dharminder Chahal, CEO of SkylineDx. "Working with Quest Diagnostics will help us ensure we can continue to advance the field of molecular diagnostics and broaden access to our innovations. Together, we hope to make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals impacted by this disease."

This collaboration aims to combine SkylineDx's innovative technology with Quest's expertise and national scale in the United States, which includes broad electronic health record connectivity and health plan relationships and over 400 Quest, Dermpath, AmeriPath, and PhenoPath pathologists. A leader in advanced oncology diagnostics, Quest specializes in testing for inherited genetic disorders and tumor sequencing for colorectal and other cancers. The pathology businesses of Quest Diagnostics deliver subspecialty expertise for health systems and other providers in the United States and overseas.

About SkylineDx
SkylineDx is a biotechnology company focused on research and development of molecular diagnostics in oncology and inflammatory diseases. SkylineDx uses its expertise to bridge the gap between academically discovered gene expression signatures and commercially available diagnostic products with high clinical utility, assisting healthcare professionals in accurately determining the type or status of disease or predicting a patient's response to treatment. Based on test results, healthcare professionals can tailor the treatment approach to the individual patient. SkylineDx is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, complemented by a U.S. base of operations and a CAP/CLIA certified laboratory in San Diego, California, USA. To learn more about SkylineDx, please visit www.skylinedx.com.

About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

¹ Melanoma Skin Cancer Statistics | American Cancer Society
² Stetkevich SA, Simman R. Redesigning Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Guidelines in Melanoma Cases. Eplasty. 2023 Feb 3;23:e8. PMID: 36817365; PMCID: PMC9912052.
³ Wilke LG, McCall LM, Posther KE, Whitworth PW, Reintgen DS, Leitch AM, Gabram SG, Lucci A, Cox CE, Hunt KK, Herndon JE 2nd, Giuliano AE. Surgical complications associated with sentinel lymph node biopsy: results from a prospective international cooperative group trial. Ann Surg Oncol. 2006 Apr;13(4):491-500. doi: 10.1245/ASO.2006.05.013. Epub 2006 Mar 2. PMID: 16514477.
⁴ Amaral T, Sinnberg T, Chatziioannou E, et al. Identification of stage I/II melanoma patients at high risk for recurrence using a model combining clinicopathologic factors with gene expression profiling (CP-GEP). Eur J Cancer. 2023;182:155-162. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2022.12.021
⁵ Multicenter US Study Reveals CP-GEP's Profound Impact on Stratifying Melanoma Patients for Long-Term Survival - SkylineDx

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SOURCE Quest Diagnostics

FAQ

What is the name of the gene expression test launched by Quest Diagnostics for melanoma treatment decisions?

Quest Diagnostics has launched MelaNodal Predict™, a highly advanced predictive gene expression test.

What is the survival rate for low-risk patients identified by the MelaNodal Predict test?

Patients classified as low-risk by MelaNodal Predict have reported a survival rate of over 90 percent.

What technology is the MelaNodal Predict test based on?

The MelaNodal Predict test is based on technology developed by SkylineDx, an oncology biotechnology company, alongside Mayo Clinic.

What is the potential benefit of the MelaNodal Predict test for patients?

The test may help patients avoid potentially unnecessary, expensive, and invasive surgeries like a sentinel lymph node biopsy if classified as low risk.

How does the MelaNodal Predict test help healthcare providers?

The test may help providers better manage patient risk, use healthcare resources effectively, and individualize surgical decisions.