The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) has become the first hospital in Ireland to introduce new cancer tests designed to personalise treatment for patients with aggressive gastrointestinal and ovarian cancers.
The hospital’s new Claudin-18 (CLDN18) and Folate Receptor-1 (FOLR-1) tests help doctors determine whether patients could benefit from targeted immunotherapies, which may extend survival in hard-to-treat cancers.
Developed and validated by the hospital’s Cellular Pathology Department, the tests detect specific proteins in tumour tissue. This allows clinicians to make more precise treatment decisions, potentially improving outcomes for patients with limited options.
“Pathology laboratories are at the heart of clinical decision-making,” said Dr Ann Treacy, Consultant Histopathologist at the Mater. “Around 70% of medical decisions rely on pathology test results. Expanding our precision diagnostics means patients in Ireland can now access advanced testing that matches the right patient to the right treatment.”
Claudin-18 testing identifies patients with upper gastrointestinal cancers who may respond to novel immunotherapies. FOLR-1 testing guides treatment decisions for epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancers, particularly in cases of recurrence or chemotherapy resistance. Together, these tests offer new options for patients who have exhausted conventional treatments.
“The introduction of these biomarkers is a significant step forward for patients with some of the most challenging cancers,” said Dr Darren Cowzer, Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Mater. “Having fast access to high-quality Claudin-18 and FOLR-1 testing locally means we can identify candidates for targeted therapies earlier, making treatment decisions quicker and more accurate. This advance gives more patients the chance to benefit from therapies that may improve both survival and quality of life.”
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