SELECTION OF COLORECTAL CANCER PATIENTS FOR TREATMENT WITH DRUGS TARGETING EGFR PATHWAY

摘要

Methods using mass spectral data analysis and a classification algorithm provide an ability to determine whether a colorectal cancer (CRC) patient is likely to benefit from a drug targeting an epidermal growth factor receptor pathway, such as monoclonal antibody EGFR inhibitors. The method involves the steps of a) obtaining a mass spectrum from a blood- based sample from the patient; b) performing one or more predefined pre-processing steps on the mass spectrum obtained in step a); c) obtaining integrated intensity values of selected features in the spectrum at one or more predefined m/z ranges after the pre-processing steps on the mass spectrum in step b) have been performed; and d) using the values obtained in step c) in a classification algorithm using a training set comprising class-labeled spectra produced from blood-based samples from other patients to identify the patient as being either likely or not likely to benefit from treatment with the drug.