Advancements in Predicting Tumor Response and Expanding Therapy Eligibility Using Epigenomic Biomarkers
Epigenetic biomarkers, especially DNA methylation profiles, are revolutionizing cancer treatment by enabling more accurate prediction of tumor response to therapies such as anti-EGFR antibodies in colorectal cancer13.
A novel in vitro diagnostic, the OncoGuide™ EpiLight™ Methylation Detection Kit, was approved in Japan in June 2024 for selecting therapy in advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer with wild-type RAS genes, based on methylation status at 16 CpG sites3.
DNA methylation status has been shown to independently predict treatment efficacy and prognosis, outperforming traditional factors like primary tumor location in some cancers3.
Artificial intelligence models are now being used to analyze epigenetic and genomic data, improving the identification of patient subpopulations likely to benefit from specific therapies and enabling earlier, more precise treatment adjustments24.
Despite progress, integration of DNA methylation biomarkers into routine clinical practice remains limited, highlighting the need for further research and validation5.
Sources:
1. https://www.numberanalytics.com/blog/epigenetic-biomarkers-cancer-treatment
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12016295/
3. https://www.jmaj.jp/detail.php?id=10.31662%2Fjmaj.2025-0074
4. https://respiratory-therapy.com/products-treatment/industry-regulatory-news/business-news/ai-models-may-predict-patient-response-to-immunotherapies/