LucidQuest’s Post

Gene&Cell Therapy >> Dana-Farber, Brigham breakup could lead to a ripple effect for CGT clinical trials for cancer: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute announced on Sept. 14 that it is securing a new joint venture with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, marking a breakup of its decadeslong adult cancer care partnership with Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The news shocked Brigham, which had been negotiating a partnership extension with Dana-Farber for the past 15 months, according to the Boston Globe. There are around 20 ongoing cell therapy clinical trials under the Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, which comprises 12 treatment centers with experts from Dana-Farber and Brigham working together. Brigham also has its own gene and cell therapy institute and a lab dedicated to next-generation, genetically-modified CAR-T cell therapies for cancer. With the Dana-Farber contract set to end in 2028, concerns have been raised about the impact on current cell and gene therapy (CGT) studies and ones that are scheduled to start, due to the complex nature of the treatments involved. Jason Foster Manufacturing CGTs is a skill- and labor-intensive process. Ori Biotech CEO Jason Foster told Endpoints News that hospitals and research centers often work together to make them on-site for clinical trials, with highly skilled experts from the specialty centers playing a key role. UK-based Ori develops technologies that automates CGT manufacturing. At Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center’s cellular therapies program, cells are processed at an outside commercial facility or at the Connell and O’Reilly Families Cell Manipulation Core Facility. When such partnerships come to an end, “that kind of [specialist] knowledge loss is something that will impact both the trajectory of [CGT] trials, but also the time it takes to get these products to patients,” Foster added. These potential negative impacts on trials would only compound preexisting barriers to access to CGTs, including high costs and lengthy manufacturing processes. Estimates suggest that 25% of patients die while waiting for CAR-T treatments, according to ASCO Post. Lee Buckler Lee Buckler, senior vice president of advanced therapies at Blood Centers of America, told Endpoints in an email that collaboration between research institutes and healthcare providers was of significant — if not critical — value to the testing of CGTs. A Brigham spokesperson said that the hospital is one of the largest recipients of NIH funding and does not expect any changes to trials already under agreement, adding it would continue to be a leader in the CGT space. “We are also planning for a new, state of the art Brigham facility which will include the medical oncology specialty,” the spokesperson said. Dana-Farber did not respond to Endpoints before deadline. Problems with CGT trials could be… #lucidquest #genetherapy #celltherapy

One of the joys in this phase of my career is talking to the future generation of scientists who are considering different career options. Dylan Neel, an inquisitive MD PhD candidate who is also passionate about writing, recently asked me about my career path. Making a difference in the lives of others, whether they are patients, family, friends or colleagues, has always been my guiding principle and inspiration. What advice do you have for trainees in science and medicine who want to discover their own career goals? Feel free to share your thoughts!

How can we make patients benefit from effective therapies faster? UMC Utrecht is one of the coordinating partners within Oncode Accelerator, focusing on patient cohorts , biologics and cell and gene therapies, with Miriam Koopman, Jurgen Kuball, Jeanette Leusen and Geraldine Vink, amongst others. Read more below ⤵ UMC Utrecht | Cancer Research UMC Utrecht | Oncode Accelerator #cancerresearch

#cancerresearch #genetics #oncology #chemotherapy https://lnkd.in/g9MKQAdA A gene test already used routinely in the NHS can guide use of chemotherapy in people with bowel cancer by predicting whether or not they will benefit. The test could allow doctors to select patients whose cancers are likely to be sensitive to chemotherapy – and spare others who will not respond from unnecessary toxicity and debilitating side effects. Scientists hope their findings, published in Nature Medicine, will enable the first routine use of a genetic test to predict how patients’ cancers will respond to chemotherapy in bowel cancer. The chemotherapy trifluridine/tipiracil is a last-line treatment available on the NHS for patients who have exhausted most other therapies. It is made up of two drugs trifluridine and tipiracil and is taken as tablets. Responses to trifluridine/tipiracil vary greatly between patients – with some patients showing good, long-term responses, and other patients seeing no benefits.

Here, Justin Kline, MD, University of Chicago, discussed a novel CD5 gene expression signature (CD5sig) that is a useful biomarker to identify #DLBCL subtypes vulnerable to #BTK inhibitor therapies. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eUkC5Sad #Oncologist #Oncology #OncologyNews #DiffuseLargeBCellLymphoma

Among the most explored applications of molecular diagnostics is oncology, a segment with sales of $6 billion in 2023, finds "Molecular Diagnostics in Oncology, Genetic/Inherited Diseases, and NIPT, 2023-2028" by Kalorama Information. #oncology #cancer #moleculardiagnostics #genomics #prenataltesting #NIPT #InheritedDisease #genes #genetics #geneticdisorders #geneticdisease #mrx #marketresearch #diagnostictesting #diagnostics #medical #healthcare #NGS

Multiple myeloma remains challenging to treat. New therapeutic advances have improved outcomes, but selecting the right treatment for a patient can be complex because the disease can vary drastically from person to person. In a new article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers in collaboration with Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and groups around the world share results from a novel model that can provide tailored predictions of how individual patients with #multiplemyeloma respond to different therapies. https://lnkd.in/enGGvUBR Multiple myeloma is a rare #bloodcancer affecting a type of white blood cells known as plasma cells. There is no cure for the disease, which is why therapeutic management is critical. To help determine the appropriate course of therapy, clinicians utilize prognostic tools including fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), which maps out cell genomic changes and gene expression profiling models. A team of Moffitt researchers and collaborators in the U.S., #UnitedKingdom, #Germany and #Italy developed a novel #genomic classification system for multiple myeloma that categorized patients into 12 distinct groups based on their underlying genomic profiles. https://lnkd.in/evUtPBwY #cancer #oncology #oncologyresearch #cancerresearch

🔬🩸 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 #𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 🔍 New research in CAR-T therapy is leveraging advanced gene editing technology to broaden its applicability across various blood cancers. By employing a two-pronged approach, researchers aim to extend this treatment to diseases like acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Another example of how technology is helping to advance healthcare and develop innovative immunotherapy solutions 💪

💥 ICYMI Major highlights by Erica Barnell on recent work published and presented by Geneoscopy regarding early and noninvasive detection in colorectal cancer by CRC-PREVENT (8,920 individuals aged >45yo): - 94% sensitivity for CRC (100% detection in 45-49yo) - 46% sensitivity for advanced adenomas - 88% specificity for no findings Additional significance of the CRC-PREVENT study: - 23% of the cohort was 45-49yo - More than 10% of detected cancers were in 45-49yo - 85% compliance to returning the stool collection kit, compared a 40% noncompliance rate in the population for colonoscopies - Only 68% of enrolled patients did not have plans for a colonoscopy Social media enabled rapid enrollment "truly reflective of our target population"

NEW PUBLICATION: In our new Cytotherapy manuscript we describe a risk-based approach to leverage data from one cellular therapy product to another as an opportunity to expedite development. Genetically engineered cell therapies, such as CAR-T cell therapies, have shown remarkable outcomes in hematologic malignancies. Identifying new ways to efficiently evaluate subsequent versions of cell therapies can help accelerate the development of a new generation of potentially transformative treatments. Thanks to our expert collaborators: Mark Stewart, Michael Kalos, Vicki Coutinho, PhD, Marc Better, Jonathan Jazayeri, Jennifer Yohrling, PhD, Julie Jadlowsky, Miriam Fuchs, Shalini Gidwani, Carsten Goessl, Patrick Hanley, Ph.D., Jane A. Healy, MD PhD, Wen Liu, Brittany Avin McKelvey, Laura Pearce, Shari Pilon-Thomas, Hillary Andrews, PhD, Monica Veldman, Judy Vong, MS, Susan W. Weinbach, Friends of Cancer Research Full Report: https://lnkd.in/ecY2X9R8 #celltherapy #cancerresearch