Omico is a not-for-profit organisation that provides free molecular screening for eligible people with cancer. We’re all unique and so is a person’s cancer. Molecular screening can tell us more about your cancer and help us match you to a treatment that might make a difference.
Patients & Families
Omico helps match people with cancer to clinical trials of innovative new treatments.
How precision medicine can improve outcomes
How our genomic screening works
If you or someone you know has advanced or incurable cancer, is not responding to their current treatment or is at high-risk for cancer (due to hereditary conditions):
- Your doctor completes an online referral form
- You sign a consent form
- Omico assesses the genes and other molecules in your cancer tissue
- Our experts match results to an existing therapy or clinical trial of a new drug
- Process takes 8 to 10 weeks
About genomics (molecular testing)
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What is tumour profiling?
Molecular profiling, or tumour profiling, is a method of testing that finds mutations in the DNA of your cancer that may be causing your cancer to grow. Identifying mutations may help your clinician identify a targeted therapy, an immunotherapy or a clinical trial that may be right for you.
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Do you have any trials for my specific cancer?
The MoST study includes all cancer types. Our trials are based on genetic changes within your tumour tissue not a specific cancer type. We cannot recommend any trials until after molecular screening is completed.
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What is a biomarker?
A biomarker is a biological characteristic of a tumour that can be measured and which can indicate that the tumour may be responsive to treatment.
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What are the chances that you will find a biomarker that can guide treatment?
The chances of finding a suitable biomarker are low, we cannot guarantee that you will be eligible for treatment on any trials. We find suitable biomarkers in approximately 40% of patients.
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What gene panel is used for molecular screening?
The gene panel in use can vary; all of the panels are designed to assess key cancer biomarkers across several different tumour types. The panel used will be detailed on your test report.
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What is the future research?
The program researchers are interested in doing additional research now and in the future on the samples collected from you to better understand the nature of cancer and how patients respond to treatment. Participation in future research is optional, this research may not benefit you, but may help people in the future who have the same kind of cancer as you have.
About molecular screening
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How do I get onto a molecular testing program?
If you:
- Are aged 16 years or older, with pathologically confirmed advanced or metastatic solid or blood cancer of any type
- Have tissue available for molecular screening or already have a molecular profiling report available
- Are out of bed and active for at least half the day
Speak to your clinician about our programs.
If you are:
- Aged 40 years or under and have been diagnosed with a cancer
- Aged less than 50 years old and have been diagnosed with two different cancers
- Any age and have been diagnosed with three or more cancers
Speak to your clinician about our programs.
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Will there be any costs involved?
For the vast majority there are no costs. A small number of pathology centres require payment to send your tumour tissue to the nearest MoST laboratory for molecular screening. In these instances, you will need to pay the pathology centre directly. These costs can vary from $60 to $200.
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Will I need to have a biopsy to participate in MoST?
No, we use existing tumour tissue samples from a previous surgery or biopsy to do the molecular screening.
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How long will the testing take?
Stage 1 screening takes up to 8 weeks from the day you give your written consent to take part. The results will then be sent directly to your referring oncologist and we ask you to discuss the results with them.
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Will the test tell me if I am suitable for immunotherapy?
The testing is not exhaustive but does include common biomarkers that can predict response to immunotherapy. We assess some of the key immunotherapy biomarkers such as tumour mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI). These can indicate if a patient may be suitable for immunotherapy.
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Why do you need a blood sample?
We ask for a blood sample to help with interpretation of the molecular screening data as well as the research component of the study.
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Will I need to travel?
You will not have to travel for the first stage of the program (molecular screening). We can arrange to enrol you remotely via teleconference. We will send you the required documentation by courier and a blood collection kit to take to a local pathology collection service. If you are referred to participate in a MoST clinical trial, you will have to travel to your nearest centre to meet with one of the study doctors so that they can confirm your eligibility for the trial and administer treatments.
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What are the implications for my family?
There is a very small chance that we will find that your cancer could be caused by an inherited genetic change. Other members of your family may have the same genetic change. In the consent form we will ask you to indicate if you wish to be informed about changes in your genes that could cause cancer and may run in your family.