Rapid Genetic Test Could Help Guide Brain Cancer Surgery

Research news: An NCI-supported study reports an “Ultra-Rapid” droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) workflow that measured IDH1 R132H and BRAF V600E mutations in intraoperative brain tissue samples in about 15 minutes. In >75 samples from 22 patients, the method’s performance matched standard ddPCR, while also detecting very small numbers of tumor cells (reported as low as five cells/mm²). Authors say the approach is investigational and has not yet been used to actively guide surgery; further refinement and clinical trials are planned.

Rapid genetic test could help guide brain cancer surgery (research news)

In an NCI-supported study published Feb 25 in Med, investigators at NYU Grossman School of Medicine described an Ultra-Rapid droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) method designed to provide intraoperative molecular information from brain tissue samples.

Key findings reported:

  • Turnaround time: Results in ~15 minutes, described as the first time ddPCR has been executed this quickly.
  • Targets tested: IDH1 R132H and BRAF V600E, mutations found in many brain tumors and not in healthy brain cells.
  • Analytical performance: In >75 tissue samples from 22 surgical patients, Ultra-Rapid ddPCR performance matched standard ddPCR across several measures, including estimating the percentage of cancer cells in a sample.
  • Sensitivity: The method reportedly detected as few as five tumor cells per square millimeter.

The authors propose that mutation detection and tumor cell density estimates at surgical margins could become an additional data source for intraoperative decisions (e.g., whether to continue resection), alongside existing considerations and tools (e.g., frozen sectioning, ultrasound, intraoperative MRI).

The researchers emphasized uncertainty and next steps: the technology is new, has not yet been used to actively guide brain tumor surgery, and requires further refinement; automation and a future clinical trial are planned to evaluate whether it improves surgical guidance and patient outcomes.

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