Personalized Oncology
Patient - Frequently Asked Questions
The Onco-PDO® test has received approval from the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). It is also CE marked, indicating compliance with European health, safety, and environmental protection standards.
The Onco-PDO® test can evaluate a minimum of 8 drugs. If additional cells are available, further testing can be done at an extra cost.
If there are leftover cells, we can test additional drugs. If no cells are available, a new biopsy may be required, depending on the patient’s condition and physician’s advice. However, even if no effective drugs are identified, the results can still help us rule out treatments that are unlikely to work.
No, previously preserved cancer cells cannot be used because the test requires live cells to accurately evaluate the effect of different drug treatments. Additionally, tumor cell profiles can change after treatment and relapse, making preserved cells less representative of the current tumor characteristics.
It is generally recommended to take the test before surgery, as it requires live cancer cells for accurate evaluation. Performing the test on cells from the tumor before surgery provides the most relevant information for determining the most effective drug treatments. Additionally, if treatment has not yet started, tumor organoids can be preserved for up to 6 months, allowing the cells to be readily available if needed for future testing.
Onco-PDO® test offers a strategic approach in targeting and personalizing your cancer treatment. A sample of your tumor is taken during surgery or routine biopsies and grown in the laboratory. The cells from this tissue sample are grown in a 3-dimensional environment like human body, which form complex structures called PDOs (Patient-Derived Organoids)
These PDOs are then tested against standard-of-care chemotherapeutic drugs (as recommended by your physician) to determine the response of Onco-PDOs under laboratory conditions. The studied response is then drafted as a Onco-PDO® report and provided to your physician.#.
# Response data in the in vitro Onco-PDO® test may not always be reflective of patient-specific response due to additional physiological factors.
The test will provide an overview of how the cells extracted from your own tumor respond to a panel of standard chemotherapeutic drugs under laboratory conditions. This additional information from Onco-PDO® report can provide an insight to your physician in understanding your tumor’s response to the drugs under laboratory conditions.
The Onco-PDO® test can be performed for all solid tumors, including but not limited to breast, ovarian, lung, colorectal, pancreatic, and gastric cancers, as well as rare cancer types. We are continuously working on expanding the test to cover additional cancer types.
This test is intended for patients undergoing drug treatment, whether they are at an early stage, end stage, or experiencing a relapse. It is also beneficial for relapsed patients who have not responded to previous therapies.
This test has been developed in collaboration with A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore, a world-leading research institution in functional genomics and integrative biology. The technology supporting the test has been published in peer-reviewed journals like Nature Communications and Nature Medicine.
Once your samples are received for testing, results are typically available in 2-3 weeks to your physician*.
* There is no guarantee that a tumour model can be successfully developed from the sample taken to complete the testing, due to potential sample contamination, low cell number / viability or other limitations with the sample collected.
It is best to talk to your doctor^.
^ The Onco-PDO® Testing Service is not a substitute for visits to a physician. The information in these reports should not be used independently to determine or adjust any treatment plan. Many factors besides the information covered in these reports can influence how a patient responds to a drug.
Tests for patients in Europe are performed in our laboratory in Munich, Germany with the highest standards of laboratory practice. Tests for patients in Asia are performed in our laboratory in Singapore.