Companion Diagnostics (CDx) Based on Molecular Biology Techniques

Abstract

Molecular profiling based on genomic mutations provides clinically important diagnostic and prognostic information. Companion diagnostic (CDx) testing, which is based on targeted drug therapy, is being applied to a variety of molecular diagnostic techniques (e.g., fluorescent in situ hybridization-FISH; polymerase chain reaction-PCR; and next-generation sequencing-NGS) to diagnose complex etiologies using a minimal number of specimens, replacing immunohistochemical analysis, which may show bias at certain stages. The safety and effectiveness of CDx testing using molecular diagnostic technology in precision medicine is an important factor in determining the treatment outcome and prognosis of patients. Meeting minimum safety and effectiveness performance standards is essential for CDx testing, and a thorough understanding of regulatory considerations is necessary to plan and design the optimal product. In this review, we focus on the diagnostic field of precision medicine and discuss the safety and effectiveness that each molecular diagnostic technology must meet according to CDx testing diversity.