Douglas Flora: MRD AI tests are proving to be invaluable tools in our decision-making process

Douglas Flora shared a post on LinkedIn:

“As I’ve been working my way through the latest ASCO abstracts, I’m excited to see so many applications of AI in the precision diagnostics arena.

The advancements in Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) tests are particularly impressive.

These tests are becoming increasingly sensitive, and numerous studies are emerging, demonstrating their potential utility in the clinic.

MRD tests are proving to be invaluable tools in our decision-making process.

They will help us determine when to escalate or change therapies and, equally importantly, when we can safely deescalate treatments based on these informed results.

This feels like a more intelligent version of Adjuvant Online or the next generation of Oncotype DX, potentially leading to better outcomes for our patients.

There is growing uptake of MRD testing in cancers such as colorectal cancer (look at 5 year data in this DYNAMIC study below!), Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), melanoma, and invasive bladder cancer. A number of recent articles and ASCO abstracts are now also making a strong case for MRD in NSCLC, including its potential role for inclusion in staging.

So why are so many oncologists still reluctant to use these tests?

Even in our forward-thinking practice, there is a wide range of variation amongst our providers in utilizing MRD. A review of ASCO24 abstracts suggests real potential for MRD to become a new standard of care, informing staging and treatment across dozens of diseases.

Let’s engage with these scientific advancements and consider how we can integrate these technologies into our practice.

Who else is ready to explore these advancements in cancer care?”

Additional information.
Source: Douglas Flora/LinkedIn

Douglas Flora is the Executive Medical Director of Oncology Services at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, overseeing clinical operations, strategic planning, and the expansion of cancer programs. He is also the co-founder of the Center for Precision Medicine; Genomic Health.

As the Editor-in-Chief of ‘AI in Precision Oncology,’ the first peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to this field, he plays a pivotal role in advancing research. He is also an active board member of the American Cancer Society and ACCC, where he contributes to advocacy, education, and innovation within the cancer community.