On January 12, 2022 Castle Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSTL), a leader in transforming disease management and improving patient outcomes through innovative diagnostics, reported the publication of a study demonstrating that the combined application of DecisionDx-UM, DecisionDx-PRAME and DecisionDx-UMSeq allows for highly accurate analysis of RNA and DNA from a single biopsy sample for patients with uveal melanoma (UM) (Press release, Castle Biosciences, JAN 12, 2022, View Source [SID1234598635]).

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DecisionDx-UMSeq is Castle’s 7-gene test that uses next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify somatic mutations relevant to uveal melanoma. The sequencing panel identifies hotspot mutations in the genes GNAQ, GNA11, CYSLTR2, PLCB4 and SF3B1, mutations in exons 1-2 of EIF1AX and mutations across all coding exons of the BAP1 gene. This information, together with results from the DecisionDx-UM gene expression profile (GEP) test, is designed to help build a comprehensive genomic profile of an individual UM tumor from a single biopsy, which can then be used to inform patient care. DecisionDx-UM is Castle’s 15-GEP test that uses an individual patient’s tumor biology to predict individual risk of metastasis. DecisionDx-UM is the standard of care in the management of newly diagnosed UM in the majority of ocular oncology practices in the United States.

The study titled, "Analytical validation and performance of a 7-gene next-generation sequencing panel in uveal melanoma," was recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Ocular Oncology and Pathology. The study, which can be viewed here, was designed to evaluate the analytical performance of the DecisionDx-UMSeq panel, which can be run from the same fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) biopsy sample that is used to run the DecisionDx-UM test.

"The study results demonstrated that running the DecisionDx-UMSeq panel in combination with DecisionDx-UM and DecisionDx-PRAME produced highly accurate results using only a single biopsy sample," said J. William Harbour, M.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. "Patients with the rare and deadly uveal melanoma have limited biopsy tissue available, so it is critical to gather as much molecular information from the tumor as possible to help physicians make the most informed management decisions for their patients."

Study background and highlights:

105 primary tumors were analyzed, including 37 FFPE and 68 FNAB specimens.
DecisionDx-UMSeq achieved a positive percent agreement (PPA) of 100% for detection of both single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and insertions/deletions (INDELs), with a technical positive prediction value (TPPV) of 98.8% and 100%, respectively.
The DecisionDx-UMSeq panel is unique compared to other sequencing panels in that it can be performed from the same biopsy sample that is used to perform the DecisionDx-UM and DecisionDx-PRAME tests and does not require a second biopsy.
Overall, the study data demonstrated that the combined application of DecisionDx-UM, DecisionDx-PRAME and DecisionDx-UMSeq allowed for highly accurate analysis of both RNA and DNA from a single biopsy sample. The ability to perform mutational profiling of UM tumors, in addition to the DecisionDx-UM test, is an important advance that may aid in confirming the presence of a melanocytic lesion, potentially better inform therapy selection, and provide additional layers of prognostic information to help guide patient care.
About DecisionDx-UMSeq

DecisionDx-UMSeq is Castle’s 7-gene DNA sequencing panel that uses NGS to identify somatic mutations relevant to uveal melanoma. The sequencing panel identifies hotspot mutations in the genes GNAQ, GNA11, CYSLTR2, PLCB4 and SF3B1, mutations in exons 1-2 of EIF1AX, and mutations across all coding exons of the BAP1 gene. This information, together with results from the DecisionDx-UM and DecisionDx-PRAME GEP tests, is designed to help build a comprehensive genomic profile of an individual UM tumor from a single biopsy, which can then be used to inform patient care. The DecisionDx-UMSeq DNA sequencing panel is not intended as a substitute for the DecisionDx-UM GEP test. The DecisionDx-UM GEP test is the only uveal melanoma prognostic method that has been prospectively validated in multiple studies, providing the most robust prognostic information currently available for newly diagnosed UM patients to date.

About DecisionDx-UM

DecisionDx-UM is a 15-gene GEP test that uses an individual patient’s tumor biology to predict individual risk of metastasis. DecisionDx-UM is the standard of care in the management of newly diagnosed UM in the majority of ocular oncology practices in the United States. Since 2009, the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC; v7 and v8) Staging Manual for UM has specifically identified this GEP test as a prognostic factor that is recommended for collection as a part of clinical care. Further, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for UM include the DecisionDx-UM test result as a prognostic method for determining risk of metastasis and recommended differential surveillance regimens based on a Class 1A, 1B and 2 result. DecisionDx-UM is the only prognostic test for uveal melanoma that has been validated in prospective, multi-center studies, and it has been shown to be a superior predictor of metastasis compared to other prognostic factors, such as chromosome 3 status, mutational status, AJCC stage and cell type.

It is estimated that nearly 8 in 10 patients diagnosed with UM in the U.S. receive the DecisionDx-UM test as part of their diagnostic workup.

About DecisionDx-PRAME

DecisionDx-PRAME is a gene expression profile test that can be run on the same sample used to run DecisionDx-UM to assess expression of the PRAME gene. PRAME, or preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma, is usually not expressed in normal adult tissues, but in some cancers, PRAME expression is elevated. Elevated expression of PRAME has been associated with an increased risk of metastasis in patients with uveal melanoma.

When used in conjunction with results from the DecisionDx-UM test, PRAME expression status may add further precision to the predicted risk of metastasis and help guide physicians and patients to the most appropriate follow-up care regimens.

More information about the tests and disease can be found at www.CastleTestInfo.com.