Northside Hospital is introducing a new test to help diagnose leukemia faster and more accurately, giving patients quicker answers and helping doctors choose the most effective treatments sooner.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and related blood cancers are not all the same. They can look similar but behave differently based on specific genetic changes inside the cancer cells. Identifying those changes early is important because many modern treatments are designed to target them.
Northside’s new RNA fusion next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel is a new diagnostic tool designed to detect ribonucleic acid fusions. The panel is based on the Oncomine Myeloid RNA Assay GX v2 and runs on the Ion Torrent Genexus next-generation sequencing system, which screens for hundreds of clinically relevant RNA fusions using bone marrow or peripheral blood samples. Results are available in just a few business days.
This faster turnaround helps doctors:
- Confirm the exact type of leukemia
- Identify targeted treatment options
- Make treatment decisions sooner
Some leukemias are caused by gene fusions, which happen when genes join together abnormally. These changes can affect how aggressive the cancer is and which treatments may work best. Finding these changes quickly can allow patients to start the right therapy right away.
The test can also help diagnose other rare blood disorders, including CMML, MDS/MPN overlap syndromes and hypereosinophilic syndromes, which can be difficult to identify and may otherwise delay treatment.
“What makes Northside’s new RNA fusion panel especially meaningful for the community is that it brings a level of advanced diagnostics closer to home,” said Dr. Joseph Maakaron, a physician at The Blood & Marrow Transplant Group of Georgia and the Northside Hospital Blood and Marrow Transplant, Leukemia and Immunotherapy Program. “Instead of sending samples to outside reference laboratories and waiting longer for results, patients can benefit from rapid, in-house testing.”
“In the era of precision medicine, leukemia treatment is no longer one-size-fits-all. A patient’s molecular profile can determine whether they receive intensive chemotherapy, a targeted oral medication or a combination of both,” Dr. Maakaron added.
For patients and families, this new testing means clearer answers, faster treatment planning and greater confidence in their care. It reflects Northside Hospital’s ongoing commitment to bringing advanced cancer care to the communities it serves.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LEUKEMIA PROGRAM AT NORTHSIDE.
