Promising Early Results from Pediatric MATCH Trial

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Researchers convene tomorrow in Chicago to kick off the 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting, and one abstract session will be focused on encouraging early results out of the Pediatric MATCH Trial. 

Pediatric MATCH is a nationwide clinical trial led by the National Cancer Institute and the Children's Oncology Group, aimed at children and adolescents ages 1-21 with solid tumors that are not responding to treatment. The tumors of enrolled children are genetically sequenced to identify genetic alterations that 'match' an investigational targeted therapy. 

When Pediatric MATCH launched in 2017, it was estimated that there would be a match rate of about 10 percent, meaning one-in-ten participants were expected to be eligible to receive treatment with at least one drug. Early results, however, are much more promising: An analysis of 400 patients screened reveals a match rate of 24 percent. 

More from the ASCO News Release: 

  • 'Targetable alterations were detected in more than 40% of patients with brain tumors and more than 25% of patients with the other cancer types tested (other solid tumors, lymphomas, and histiocytic disorders) demonstrating the utility of tumor screening for children with both common and rare cancers.'

  • 'Pediatric MATCH is anticipated to enroll at least 1,000 patients. Study investigators plan to continue to add new targeted therapies to the trial in an attempt to further increase the number of patients who could be matched to drug treatments on the study – protocols for four additional drugs are currently under development.'

ResearchJessica KeanPediatric MATCH