Genes linked to the development of AMD, but not to its treatment
Wednesday, April 17 2013 | 00 h 00 min | News
The four gene variants linked to the development of AMD do not influence how patients respond to treatment using Lucentis and Avastin.
The gene variants CFH, ARMS2, HTRA1 and C3 encourage the onset of AMD. Researchers wanted to find out whether they also affected patient response to drugs used to treat the “wet” form of the disease. This would have allowed them to tailor treatment based on a patient’s genetic profile.
The researchers also studied the genotypes of 73% of the 1,149 participants in the Comparison of AMD Treatment Trials (CATT). Then the patients’ gene types were compared to their responses to treatment. Unfortunately, they did not find an association among the genes and the treatment responses. These results confirm those from a study conducted in 2012 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
“Our genetic research team remains hopeful that gene variants that predict patient response to AMD treatments will be identified soon,” said Dr. Stephanie Hagstrom, lead researcher in the CATT study. This would enable a significant advance in ophthalmologists’ ability to individualize treatment.
