ROYAL OAK — An ongoing study at Beaumont Hospital is recruiting patients for a nationwide cancer study on targeted therapies. The research will be conducted at Beaumont hospitals in Royal Oak and Troy.

The National Cancer Institute seeks to determine whether targeted therapies for people whose tumors have certain gene mutations will be effective regardless of their cancer type.

According to Dana Zakalik, the principal investigator for Beaumont Health and corporate medical director of  the Cancer Genetics Program at the Royal Oak campus, early results of sub-studies of the Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice trial are compelling – possibly one day playing a role in advancing targeted treatments for patients with certain genetic abnormalities. 

The study, also referred to as MATCH, is for adults with solid tumors, lymphoma or myeloma. Researchers are enrolling patients with rare cancers.

The studies are ongoing and enrolling patients at more than 1,100 cancer centers nationwide. Beaumont is a member of the National Cancer Institute’s Community Oncology Research Program, also known as NCORP.

All participants in the screening study are required to have had a sample of their tumor tested by a MATCH-designated laboratory. The labs are commercial or university-based labs which have signed an agreement with the National Cancer Institute to refer patients to a specific substudy. If the patient’s tumor has a genetic change or mutation targeted by one or more drugs used in the study, they will be asked to participate in the research study.

Zakalik said 30-70 participants are expected to take part in the MATCH research. Researchers anticipate 15-20 percent of patients will have a mutation which can be matched with a treatment in one of the studies.

Beaumont is asking some patients to participate in the study because their cancer prognosis has not improved following treatment, or no standard therapy exists for their type of cancer.

For more information, call 248-551-7695 or visit www.ClinicalTrials.gov. Search EAY131: Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice (MATCH).