NCI-MATCH / EAY131 Genomic Testing

To find patients who may be eligible for the NCI-MATCH trial, several commercial and academic laboratories are permitted by the National Cancer Institute to identify and refer potentially eligible patients to the trial. These referrals are based upon each lab’s standard tumor gene tests ordered by physicians to guide clinical care for their patients. Tumor gene testing by a designated lab is the only pathway for new patients to enroll into the trial.

Genomic Testing and the Laboratory Referral Process

The laboratory referral process applies to any cancer patient who gets tumor gene testing at one of the nearly 1100 hospitals and clinics participating in the trial.

Following are the basic steps:

1. The process begins when a physician at a participating trial site orders routine genomic sequencing from a designated lab to guide clinical care for his or her patient
2. The designated lab looks for tumor gene abnormalities being studied in NCI-MATCH as part of its standard testing procedure
3. If the patient matches to the trial, the lab contacts the patient’s physician and provides a written referral letter or email
4. If the patient and the physician decide to pursue NCI-MATCH as a treatment option, the physician uses the laboratory referral letter or email to register the patient into the trial for a screening assessment (Step 0). Cancer patients who enroll in the NCI-MATCH trial for a screening assessment will do so knowing in advance that they have a tumor gene abnormality matching one of the treatment arms in the trial, and that they have a type of cancer that is allowed in that arm.
5. Centrally, trial leaders review the referral. If they verify the referral, they formally assign the patient to the treatment arm and notify their physician.
6. During the screening assessment (Step 0), the physician will evaluate the patient further for the specific eligibility requirements for the treatment arm to which they match
7. Once enrolled into the treatment arm, the patient will be treated with a drug or drug combination that targets the molecular changes in their tumor for as long as their tumor shrinks or remains stable

Disclaimer: Personnel in clinical sites must review the master protocol for complete eligibility requirements and NOT rely upon this overview, which is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Designated Commercial Laboratories

Designated Academic Laboratories

Note:

This study entry process intends for trial sites to order testing from the designated commercial labs. Patients and physicians requesting review of a genomic test, or seeking general information, must send an email directly to the designated commercial lab of interest (see above). There is no need to contact the NCI or ECOG-ACRIN.

Generally, the designated cancer center labs are using their own testing platforms to identify potential trial candidates from their own patient populations.

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