Mater becomes first in Ireland to introduce new precision cancer tests

The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) has become the first hospital in Ireland to successfully introduce new cancer tests for personalising treatment for patients with aggressive forms of gastrointestinal and ovarian cancers.

Claudin-18 (CLDN18) and Folate Receptor-1 (FOLR-1) companion diagnostic and therapeutic testing enables clinicians to determine whether patients with certain aggressive cancers may benefit from highly targeted and potentially life-extending cancer immunotherapies.

The newly validated tests, completed by Medical Scientists and Histopathology Consultants in the hospital’s Cellular Pathology Department, identify the presence of specific proteins in tumour tissue, helping to discern whether new, specialised cancer treatments could improve outcomes for individual patients.

“Pathology laboratories play a central role in clinical decision-making. Approximately 70 per cent of all medical decisions are informed by pathology test results,” said Dr Ann Treacy, Consultant Histopathologist at the Mater Hospital.

“By expanding our precision diagnostic capabilities, patients in Ireland can benefit from advanced testing that helps us match the right patient to the right treatment. This level of precision is vital for improving outcomes, particularly for patients with few remaining treatment options.”

Claudin-18 testing helps identify patients with upper gastrointestinal cancers who may benefit from novel immunotherapies. FOLR-1 testing supports precision treatment decisions for epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancers by determining whether a patient may be suitable for targeted therapies in cases of recurrent or chemotherapy-resistant disease. Together, these tests offer new possibilities for patients who have exhausted conventional treatment options.

“The introduction of these biomarkers represents a meaningful step forward for patients facing some of the most challenging cancers,” said Dr Darren Cowzer, Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Mater Hospital.

“Having rapid access to high-quality local Claudin-18 and FOLR-1 testing allows us to identify candidates for targeted therapies much earlier, ensuring treatment decisions are timely, and precise. These advances give more patients the opportunity to benefit from standard and experimental therapies that may significantly improve outcomes and quality of life.”