PMLS Virtual Series 2021 – Precision Oncology Fall

Welcome & Introductions

Nigel Russell, President and Founder, The Precision Medicine Leaders’ Summits, The Journal of Precision Medicine

Keynote – A New Horizon in Precision Oncology – Proteogenomics

Henry Rodriguez, PhD, MS, MBA, Director, Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research, Office of the Director, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnostics, National Cancer Institute, NIH

Massive analysis of cancer genomics data from thousands of tumors from all major cancer types has facilitated the molecular classification of cancer in modern medicine, guiding a precision oncology approach for patients. However, the advances in precision oncology have drawbacks and limitations as the needs of many cancer patients remain unaddressed. Integration of proteomics data with genomics data (proteogenomics) facilitates to advance our understanding of the causes of cancer and narrow target selection for potential therapeutic intervention by providing increased granularity regarding cancer-relevant pathways. As such, proteogenomics provides an opportunity to generate new insights by melding the complexity of cancer genomics with cancer proteomics to more completely understand how somatic genomes activate aberrant signal transduction events that drive cancer pathogenesis, with the potential to fast become an essential part of laboratory medicine. This seminar will discuss how genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics are being combined in the quest to understand the etiology of cancer – in basic clinical sample studies and translational research (clinical trials).

Panel Discussion: Optimizing Clinical Development Partnerships Using Genomic Data, and Advanced-analytics

Moderator: Michael Yasiejko MBA, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Tempus Labs

Panelists: Josh Bell PhD, Director, Computational Biology, Tempus Labs; Pavan Kumar, PhD, Vice President, Translation, Kronos Bio; Charles Lin, PhD, Senior Vice President, Biology, Kronos Bio

As one of the leaders pioneering real-world data, Tempus’ robust clinico-genomic database can be used in tandem with trial sequencing data to build a biomarker strategy and compare trial data to real-world data throughout the trial. Tempus’ sequencing data covers DNA tumor/normal, RNA transcriptome, and key immunotherapy metrics, allowing for a more holistic view to stratify likely responders and refine clinical biomarkers.

During this panel discussion,  Tempus and Kronos Bio representatives will discuss how they have been using genomics, and advanced analytics to help advance biomarker discovery and oncology clinical development programs.

Accelerating Biomarker Testing and Cancer Care Equity Through Collaboration 

Omar Perez, PhD, RAC, Head, Medical Diagnostic Strategy, US Medical Affairs Oncology, AstraZeneca

Precision medicine is among the key contributors that have led to significant gains in progressing cancer survivorship, with cancer deaths decreasing by 2.2% from 2016-2017—the largest single-year drop on record. Key to enabling treatment with precision medicine is biomarker testing, which can help determine the most appropriate treatment approach, potentially resulting in a reduction in unnecessary or ineffective care and associated costs. Importantly, it can also help improve the overall survival of patients with certain cancers compared with a non-biomarker approach. However, despite the clear benefits, rates of biomarker testing across tumor types are below guideline recommendations, due to a variety of factors. Join Dr. Omar Perez for a presentation that will dive into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on precision medicine and cancer care. Dr. Perez will provide a deeper understanding into the disparity and lack of equity in biomarker testing, as well as the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration to bring tangible and sustainable solutions to patients with cancer.

Keynote: The Changing Landscape of Oncology Therapeutics: Incorporating Genomic Profiling

Howard A. “Skip” Burris III, MD, FASCO, FACP, Chief Medical Officer, Sarah Cannon Research Institute

Digital Pathology Solutions for Drug Development and Diagnostics 

Moderator: Steve Anderson, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Senior Vice President, LabCorp Drug Development

Panelists: Carlee Hemphill, MSc, Lead Scientist, LabCorp Drug Development; Mike Montalto, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, PathAI

There has been a growing body of supporting evidence in the translational research field showing the role genomic- and proteomic-based platforms in enabling more informed and potentially effective therapeutic strategies in clinical development and when appropriate transitioning to diagnostic applications. Topics of discussion include:

• The landscape of innovative tools and technology within multi-omics that can provide comprehensive clinical trial testing solution.
• Combination of digital pathology for IHC, gene expression profiling, digital spatial profiling for a deeper investigation of disease biology.
• Implementation of AI-powered digital pathology into clinical trials to better identify target populations therapy selection and to support downstream diagnostic development.

Mixed Models to Enable Precision Medicine for Patients 

Rebecca Brandes, MS, Oncology Market Development, Companion Diagnostics, Agilent Technologies; Bryce Portier, MD, PhD, Medical Director, Head of Medical Affairs, Agilent Technologies

• Discuss the Clinician/Patient need for optionality
• How global markets drive different models for commercialization
• Utilizing multiple diagnostic technologies together to help clinicians improve patient management, based on:
  • Disease/indication
  • Sample type
  • Market access/availability

Drugging the Genome to Address KRAS Mutations 

Dietrich A. Stephan, PhD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, NeuBase Therapeutics, Inc

Transforming Cancer Detection and Treatment with Biomarker Technology

Greg Warner, PhD, Global Business Development Manager, Quanterix

Early detection is an integral component in our fight for a world without cancer. Since the 1990s, earlier cancer detection has averted an estimated 3.2 million cancer deaths. One of the most effective tools pioneering early diagnosis? Ultra-sensitive biomarker technology. Beyond the ability to identify early-stage cancers, biomarkers harness the power to assess cancer risk and recurrence, differentiate between benign and malignant cells, monitor disease progression and, ultimately, develop personalized treatment plans that improve patient outcomes. New advances in highly sensitive multiplex assays are also enabling researchers to identify and quantify multiple oncology biomarkers simultaneously to more quickly see the effects of certain drugs on individual cancer patients, even at the earliest stages of the disease.

In this keynote presentation, Dr. Greg Warner, Global Business Development Manager at Quanterix, will discuss the technological advancements enabling earlier biomarker detection for cancers, as well as the diagnostics expected to shape the future of cancer research—leveraging an arsenal of third-party, peer-reviewed research as proof points. As Dr. Warner will explain for attendees, cancers can be caught and treated earlier than ever with less-invasive, biomarker-powered detection, in turn reducing cost of care and saving countless lives.

Matching Patients for Personalized Therapy in the Cancer Clinic 

Razelle Kurzrock, MD, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Advisor, CureMatch; Clinical Trials Committee Chair, Worldwide Innovative Network (WIN) for Personalized Cancer Therapy; Formerly Head of Personalized Cancer Therapy, Moores Cancer Center, UCSD