On May 30, 2018 GeneCentric Therapeutics reported that it will present the first data on the application of its proprietary Cancer Subtyping Platform (CSP) to bladder cancer and its potential utility to provide drug response biomarkers for the disease (Press release, GeneCentric Therapeutics, MAY 30, 2018, View Source [SID1234526958]). The gene expression subtyping data will be presented in a poster session at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) in Chicago, IL on June 2, 2018.

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"Gene expression subtypes of bladder cancer have shown considerable potential as drug response biomarkers," said Dr. Myla Lai-Goldman, CEO/Founder of GeneCentric and senior author on the study. "However, to date subtype signatures have required data on several thousand genes, limiting their use to research settings. This research demonstrates that by applying our CSP platform, subtypes can be generated with a 60-gene signature Cancer Profiler, opening the door to broad use in drug development and ultimately, clinical practice." She noted that with an estimated 81,190 new bladder cancer cases in the US and 17,240 deaths, and the emergence of promising immuno and targeted therapies, there is a significant need for biomarkers predictive of drug response.

The studies, conducted by GeneCentric scientists in collaboration with researchers at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill’s Lineberger Cancer Center, assigned four gene expression subtypes based on approximately 2700 genes from 408 bladder cancer patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The researchers then developed a subtype signature based on 60 genes and tested the 60-gene set in two additional data sets.

Analysis of the gene signatures suggested additional study of their potential as therapeutic biomarkers independently as well as in combination with other molecular features. For example, subtypes showed differences in the expression profiles of genes that are promising therapeutic targets in bladder cancer, such as FGFR3 and ERBB2. The differences were consistent across multiple data sets. Bladder cancer subtypes also showed variability in immune profiles that is likely to inform the response to immunotherapy. Subtypes were also found to be significantly prognostic for Stage 2 and 3 bladder cancer.

Details of the presentation are as follows:

Title: "Bladder Cancer Gene Expression Subtypes (60 gene signature) Defines Prognosis, Differential Immune Response and Biomarker Associations."
Abstract Number: 4538

Date: June 2, 2018
Time: 8:30AM-11:30AM
Location: Hall A
Presenter: Greg Mayhew, PhD, Director, Bioinformatics, GeneCentric Therapeutics