On August 5, 2020 GeneCentric Therapeutics, Inc. and Erasmus University Medical Center (EUMC) reported that they have entered into a research collaboration to identify RNA-based drug response markers and novel, targeted therapies in the setting of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) (Press release, GeneCentric Therapeutics, AUG 5, 2020, View Source [SID1234562954]). The research will comprehensively characterize the tumor and immune biology, as well as the tumor microenviroment related to NMIBC, and will apply GeneCentric’s Bladder Cancer Subtype Profiler (BSP), among other novel assays, to predict disease progression and drug response in these patients.
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The collaboration, led at EUMC by Tahlita Zuiverloon, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator at the Erasmus MC Urothelial Cancer Research Group (EUCRG), will involve the retrospective longitudinal, genomic analysis of samples from a sizeable cohort of NMIBC patients who received surgery and adjuvant treatment. "This collaboration will provide a more complete and fundamental understanding of NMIBC drivers of disease progression, innate and active immune system involvement, and factors related to treatment response and failure or drug resistance," said Dr Zuiverloon. "We look forward to the new insights that the application of GeneCentric’s comprehensive molecular profiling platform can provide as we eagerly pursue new therapeutic options for NMIBC patients."
"To date, genomic subtypes for disease progression risk and drug response to NMIBC have not been well characterized," said Dr. Mike Milburn, President and CEO of GeneCentric Therapeutics. "This exciting research collaboration has potential to augment our molecular gene signatures to help define these subtypes and inform clinical decision making and drug development. There is a significant clinical need and opportunity to improve outcomes, as treatment of NMIBC is evolving with the emergence of novel targeted therapies, potentially including FGFR inhibitors, in addition to the current standard of care."