On September 14, 2023 Curasight A/S reported that the previously announced results from the investigator-initiated phase II study using uPAR-PET (uTRACE) in primary brain cancer have been presented in an oral presentation at the World Molecular Imaging Congress (WMIC) 2023 in Prague (Press release, Curasight, SEP 14, 2023, View Source [SID1234635173]).
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The oral presentation expanded on the topline results released earlier this year on June 29th and were presented in the session "Prospective Phase II Trial of [68Ga-NOTA-AE105] uPAR-PET/MRI in Patients with Primary Gliomas: Prognostic Value and Implications for uPAR-Targeted Radionuclide Therapy" by Dr. Aleena Azam from Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen. The abstract of the presentation will, together with the other abstracts presented at the WMIC, be published in an upcoming issue of the medical journal Molecular Imaging and Biology (Springer Publisher).
The Phase II study was carried out in 24 glioma patients, 22 with high-grade gliomas and 2 with low-grade gliomas. Of the high-grade gliomas, 16 were grade IV (Glioblastomas). All 24 patients underwent a uPAR-PET scan with 68Ga-NOTA-AE105 (uTRACE), and tumor uptake was evaluated as SUV values. The patients were followed over time to assess progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Patients were divided into high and low uPAR groups. Of the Glioblastomas 94% (15 of 16) were uPAR-PET positive. uPAR-PET was highly prognostic, and the high uptake group compared to the low uptake group had a more than 10-fold poorer prognosis (hazard ratio).
"We are proud that the investigator-initiated phase II trial in brain cancer was selected for an oral presentation at the World Molecular Imaging Congress in Prague. We believe this Phase II clinical data supports our focus on brain cancer and we will make every effort to move our theranostic strategy with uTRACE and uTREAT in these patients forward. The current poor prognosis in these patients and the need for better therapies make us committed to bring our technology fast forward to we hopefully will be able to help the patients to a better outlook and life.", said Ulrich Krasilnikoff, CEO of Curasight.
About high grade glioma and glioblastoma
Treatment of glioblastoma presents a significant unmet medical need, necessitating innovative and effective treatments. Curasight’s research and development efforts aim to address this challenge and improve the lives of patients facing aggressive brain cancer. Glioblastoma is the first indication for uTREAT, but uTREAT has also potential in several other cancer types expressing the biomarker uPAR. A total of approx. 65,000 patients are diagnosed with primary brain tumors and more than 30,000 patients are diagnosed with the aggressive form, glioblastoma, annually in the US and EU. Approximately 10 % of the patients are children. The prognosis for individuals with glioblastoma is very poor as approximately 50 % of the patients die within 14 months and after five years from diagnosis only 5 % are still alive.