Dr. Sahai on the Role of Genomic Profiling in Pancreatic Cancer

Vaibhav Sahai, MBBS, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Michigan, discusses the role of genomic profiling in pancreatic cancer.

Genomic profiling can be useful in pancreatic cancer, but it more valuable for research than it is for daily practice, explains Sahai. Data suggest that 27% of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer may actually have a targetable mutation; however, only 3% of these patients are paired with a therapeutic option. Patients should understand that there is a less than 10% likelihood of finding a targetable mutation that can be identified and paired with a drug, he adds.

It is not an option for all patients, but it is important for clinicians to be able identify the appropriate candidates. Some of the actionable mutations that appear in pancreatic cancer are BRCA1/2, PALB2, RET, microsatellite instability—high status, and high tumor mutational burden, says Sahai. Moreover, NTRK is another alteration with an available FDA-approved therapy.