GeneCentric Therapeutics, Inc. collaborator Dr. Tracy Rose from the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC presented at the Genitourinary Cancers Symposium today on: “Fibroblast growth factor receptor status and response to immune checkpoint inhibition in metastatic urothelial cancer.”
Through a collaboration announced in December 2018 with UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (UNC-LCCC) and the laboratory of Dr. William Kim, Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Genetics in the Department of Medicine and Division of Hematology and Oncology at UNC-Chapel Hill, Dr. Tracy Rose and colleagues are presenting the first data from a retrospective study in metastatic bladder cancer patients. As indicated in the presentation, “fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors are a promising new targeted therapy for patients with metastatic urothelial cancer (UC) with FGFR alterations. FGFR-altered tumors are more likely to be of the luminal molecular subtype, which is less immune infiltrated and may be less likely to respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICP)”. Results from this study revealed that overall response rates (ORR) to ICP were low in this cohort of patients, with 13% of FGFR-altered patients responding to ICP treatment compared with 16% in non-FGFR-altered patients – a difference that did not reach statistical significance. Of note, no patients (0/9, 0%) with known pathogenic mutations in FGFR3 responded to ICP therapy compared to 10/57 (18%) of patients without these alterations (p = 0.33; not reaching statistical significance). Among Dr. Rose’s conclusions was that in light of such low response rates overall, some FGFR-altered patients may benefit from treatment with FGFR inhibitors prior to ICP.
This study is a core component of the collaboration undertaken between GeneCentric and UNC-LCCC/Kim Laboratory, with the advancement of cancer subtypes to predict disease progression and pursue immune-biology related drug response biomarkers as leading priorities.
Details of the presentation are as follows:
Title: “Fibroblast growth factor receptor status and response to immune checkpoint inhibition in metastatic urothelial cancer.”
Abstract Number: 458
Date: February 15, 2019
Presenter: Tracy L. Rose, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, UNC Department of Medicine, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC
To read the abstract, please visit: https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/169672/abstract
About the Kim Lab at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Headed by William Y. Kim, MD, a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member and Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Genetics in the Department of Medicine and Division of Hematology and Oncology at UNC-Chapel Hill, the Kim Lab is focused on understanding the genetic and epigenetic events involved in the initiation and progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and bladder cancer. Through Next-Generation sequencing of primary human tumors and the use of genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), as well as in vitro systems, the Kim Lab seeks to identify the critical genomic and epigenetic changes that are drivers of RCC and bladder cancer. The ultimate intent of the Kim Lab is to elucidate the functional consequences of these genomic events to pinpoint novel, high impact therapeutic targets for therapy. Dr. Kim is involved with Cancer Genetics, Clinical Research, the UNC Urologic Oncology Program and the UNC Cancer Genetics Program. For more information, please visit http://kimlab.web.unc.edu/.
About GeneCentric Therapeutics, Inc.
GeneCentric Therapeutics, Inc., based in Research Triangle Park, N.C., is applying proprietary technology to identify drug responder populations that enable the development of precision cancer drugs while improving patient outcomes. Our initial approach applies our Cancer Subtype Platform (CSP®) to parse the complexity of tumor biology and generate genomic signatures. This approach yields high-resolution cancer subtypes with the potential to function as universal biomarkers for susceptibility to immune-based, targeted and other therapies. In commercializing our technology through strategic collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, we are defining responder populations based on subtypes throughout the drug development cycle. For more information, please visit www.GeneCentric.com.