Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 10th Annual
Emerging Cancer Biomarkers
Advancements and Future Directions in Biomarker Discovery and Clinical Applications
August 18, 2017 | Grand Hyatt Washington | Washington, DC
Predictive cancer biomarkers are one piece to the larger puzzle of cancer diagnostics and therapy, and advances in new technologies and techniques bring new potential for using these biomarkers in clinical practice. Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 10th Annual Emerging Cancer Biomarkers symposium will address the latest in biomarker discovery and research towards new clinical applications, including biomarkers for drug resistance, companion diagnostics, liquid biopsy, and immunotherapy. Special attention will be paid to cutting-edge technology, emerging biomarkers, and future directions.
Final Agenda
Recommended Short Course(s)*
SC19: Digital PCR: Applications and Advances
*Separate registration required
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18
8:00 am Registration & Morning Coffee
8:25 Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
Tony Y. Hu, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University
8:30 Predictive Biomarkers for Targeted Therapy
George Vasmatzis Ph.D., Director, Biomarker Discovery Program, Center For Individualized Medicine, Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic
Genomic sequencing of a tumor, in precision oncology, holds great promise for accelerating the development of new treatments. The hope is that we can identify key genetic alterations in every tumor then exploit that knowledge to prescribe treatments specifically targeted to pathways influenced by those alterations. Our whole-genome sequencing protocol (MPseq) is capable of identifying gene amplifications, deletions, mutations, and fusions with high degree of confidence. Integration of MPseq and RNAseq could find the driver biomarkers that could lead to identification of targeted treatments.
9:00 Genomic Advances in Urinary Bladder Cancer: Taxonomy, Therapeutic Targets and More
George J. Netto, M.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Genomic studies have validated previously deciphered genetic pathways of bladder cancer development and unmasked additional crucial driver genetic alterations. A novel genomic-based taxonomy is emerging based on recent integrated genomic and protein analysis studies. The latter has the potential to define clinically relevant molecular subtypes of bladder cancer with therapeutic and prognostic implications. An update of such advances will be discussed.
9:30 EGFR Mediates Activation of RET in Lung Adenocarcinoma with Neuroendocrine Differentiation Characterized by ASCL1 Expression
Farhad Kosari, Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic
Approximately 15% of lung adenocarcinomas are of neuroendocrine (NE) phenotype characterized by the high expression levels of the NE transcription factor ASCL1. We have found that in these tumors, the RET oncogene is highly over-expressed and furthermore, tumors with higher RET mRNA have significantly shorter overall survival. In this talk, I will present our recent data about the interaction of EGFR and RET in these tumors and discuss the potential clinical implications of our findings.
10:00 PANEL DISCUSSION: Challenges and Opportunities in Discovering New Cancer Biomarkers
Session Speakers
10:30 Coffee Break with Poster Viewing
11:00 Clinical Utility of Cytology Touch-Preparation Specimens for Genomic Testing
Stephen J. Murphy, Ph.D, Research Scientist, Biomarker Discovery Program, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic
Cytology provides valuable clinical specimens, frequently overlooked for genomic analysis. While primarily used for diagnostic review, additional genomic analysis could be highly informative. We have developed protocols for rapid processing of cytology specimens, focusing primarily on genomic DNA sequencing from tumor touch-preparations, generating genomic profiles equivalent to the deriving core tissues. Optimized utility of these specimens would greatly expand the utility of many clinical tests.
11:30 Nanoplasmonic Quantification of Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Plasma Microsamples
Tony Y. Hu, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by most cells reflect their cell or tissue origins and hold great promise as biomarkers for minimally-invasive disease detection; however, current EV detection methods are complex, low-throughput, labor-intensive and must be further adapted for disease detection, rendering them impractical for clinical use. We have developed a simple, fast and ultrasensitive EV detection assay that directly quantitates pancreatic cancer (PC)-derived EVs in small blood samples to diagnose PC patients with high sensitivity and specificity and to distinguish patients with good vs. poor responses to neoadjuvant PC therapy.
12:00 pm Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Reveals Genomic Heterogeneity of ALK Fusion Breakpoints in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Jason N. Rosenbaum, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Personalized Diagnostics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), ALK rearrangement results in a fusion protein containing constitutively active ALK kinase domain. ALK rearrangement is quite variable, with multiple potential breakpoints and fusion partners, and “ALK positive” by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) shows only 60% response rate to ALK inhibitors. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) offers a more detailed analysis of chromosomal rearrangements, and more potential clinical utility.
12:30 Sponsored Presentation (Opportunity Available)
1:00 Luncheon Presentation (Sponsorship Opportunity Available) or Enjoy Lunch on Your Own
1:30 Session Break
2:00 Chairperson’s Remarks
George J. Netto, M.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
2:05 FEATURED PRESENTATION: Exosomal MicroRNAs Regulate the Biology of the Tumor Microenvironment
Muller Fabbri, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Pediatrics and Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles - University of Southern California
MicroRNAs can be shuttled between different cell populations of the tumor microenvironment. The exchange of microRNAs affects the phenotype of cancer cells and surrounding cells contributing to cancer growth and resistance to therapy. Conversely, immune cells can affect cancer growth by releasing specific exosomic microRNAs. This lecture will focus on the role of exosomal microRNAs as central determinants of the biology of the tumor microenvironment and of cancer resistance.
2:35 miRNAs as Biomarkers of Colorectal Cancer Disparity: Current Status and Perspective
Upender Manne, MS., PhD., Professor , Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
In several malignancies, including in colorectal cancer (CRC), the differential expression of miRNAs correlates with cancer stage and other clinical variables, thereby making miRNA profiling as candidate biomarkers for cancer progression and outcomes. However, they failed to reach the clinic because the profiles are unique to individual patients. Thus, the utility of miRNAs as candidate molecular markers of cancer progression (disease recurrence/relapse and metastasis) and clinical outcomes in CRC need to be evaluated in relation to stage and patient race/ethnicity. We have demonstrated that miRNAs are stable in archival CRC samples stored for up to 28 years, and higher levels of miR-181b indicated a poorer prognosis for Stage III African-American patients, but not for Caucasians.
3:05 Refreshment Break with Poster Viewing
3:35 How I-O Agents and Combination Therapies Change the Biomarkers: Information to Tailor Therapy
Bernard A. Fox, Ph.D., Harder Family Chair for Cancer Research, Member & Chief, Laboratory of Molecular & Tumor Immunology, Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Center; CEO, UbiVac
The application of digital imaging to objectively assess immune infiltrates has profoundly impacted our understanding of anti-cancer immunity. I believe this capacity will empower pathologists to play an active role in coordinating immunotherapy treatment regimens for the majority of patients with cancer. Our consideration of these issues has led us to appreciate the power of multispectral imaging to characterize the dynamics of the anticancer immune response at the tumor site..
4:05 Where Are the Missing Driver Genes? Germline Genetic Alterations as Biomarkers of Response to Therapy
Christos Hatzis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Internal Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, Yale School of Medicine
This talk will discuss the potential role of germline genetic alterations in determining what complementary somatic cancer driver events may be required for carcinogenesis, thus driving overall genetic cancer heterogeneity. I will also discuss the role of combined germline and somatic mutations in predicting the response or resistance to treatments.
4:35 Close of Symposia Programs