Biomarker in the eye predicts response to Lucentis

Researchers have identified a biomarker in the eye that is linked to how successfully patients respond to treatment for diabetic macular oedema.

In a study of 48 patients, scientists took fluid samples from the anterior chambers of the eye before treating patients with a ranibizumab injection (Lucentis).

They found that the biggest predictor of a successful patient outcome was high levels of the ICAM-1 molecule.

Study author, Dr Rajeev Muni, highlighted that the discovery gives clinicians a novel biomarker.

“The prospect of ongoing injections in the eye is daunting for patients. The fact that we can now measure a protein in the eye that allows us to predict which patients are less likely to respond to treatment, could lead to more personalised and tailored medicine, and fewer injections,” he observed.

The results are published in JAMA Ophthalmology.