GeneCentric Therapeutics will present the first data on novel response signatures for metastatic, muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) treatments by applying its proprietary, RNA-sequencing based predictive response signature and Cancer Subtyping Platform (CSP®). The initial response signature and MIBC cohort data are being presented at a poster session at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago, IL, later today.
“MIBC remains a significant area of unmet need for patients, with a median 5-year survival rate of 5 percent,” said Dr. Mike Milburn, CEO/President of GeneCentric and senior author on the study. “The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICP) offers further treatment options in MIBC, however, their clinical benefit varies considerably by patient. We are excited to be at the forefront of advancing such gene response signatures for the benefit of patients.”
The overall goal of the study, conducted by GeneCentric scientists in collaboration with researchers at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill’s Lineberger Cancer Center, is to assess the genomic characteristics of MIBC patients treated with ICPs and to assess the potential implications of those characteristics on treatment responses and outcomes. The study involves applying the Company’s 60-gene 4-class MIBC expression subtyper (BCSP™) and an initial FGFR3 activation response signature, developed from MIBC TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) data along with other proprietary assays, to a cohort of de-identified MIBC patients who underwent prior ICP. To stratify and identify positive or negative ICP response indicators, comprehensive genomic analyses were performed on archived FFPE samples from patients within this cohort, followed by tumor and immune profiling as well as subtype and other response associated predictor analyses. The full analysis of the complete dataset (n=97) will be presented at a future meeting.
Details of the presentation are as follows:
Title: “RNAseq and DNA Whole-Exome Sequence Analysis Reveal Novel Response Signatures to IO Treatment in Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC) Patients.”
Abstract Number: 4558
Date: June 3, 2019
Time: 1:15 PM to 4:15 PM
Location: Hall A
Presenter: Greg Mayhew, PhD, Director, Bioinformatics, GeneCentric Therapeutics
To read the abstract, please visit: http://abstracts.asco.org/239/AbstView_239_270173.html
About GeneCentric
GeneCentric Therapeutics is applying proprietary technology to identify drug responder populations that enable development of precision medicine drugs and improve patient outcomes. Our approach applies the Cancer Subtype Platform (CSP®) to parse complex tumor biology into genomic signatures revealing high-resolution cancer subtypes, with potential as universal biomarkers for susceptibility to multiple classes of agents including immune-based, molecularly targeted and chemotherapeutics. We are commercializing our technology through strategic collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to define responder populations applicable throughout the drug development cycle. In addition to bladder cancer, GeneCentric has developed gene expression-based Cancer Profilers for lung, head and neck, and bladder cancer. GeneCentric has established several pharmaceutical collaborations, including an alliance with Bristol Myers Squibb in immuno-oncology. For more information, please visit www.genecentric.com.