Dr. Hidalgo Medina on MSI and Germline Testing in Pancreatic Cancer

Manuel Hidalgo Medina, MD, PhD, chief, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, discusses microsatellite instability (MSI) and germline testing patients with pancreatic cancer.

Patients should be tested for MSI upon diagnosis, explains Hidalgo Medina. There are indications that other molecular subgroups, such as NTRK fusions, get clear benefit from certain treatments, illustrating that all patients should receive germline testing upon diagnosis, as well. Knowing if patients harbor select biomarkers or mutations help physicians determine best standard of care or what clinical trials are most suited for patients.

Repeat MSI and germline testing, according to Hidalgo Medina, is not required. However, upon progression, it may be beneficial to rebiopsy the patient and sequence again to offer more opportunities for clinical trials, concludes Hidalgo Medina.