Molecular profiling applications in clinical oncology are evolving faster than ever relying on advances in technology and allowing clinicians to identify the molecular and genetic signatures that help deliver treatments that are highly specific to a given tumor type. The results are interventions in the cancer continuum that are based on the molecular pathology and pathogenesis of the disease. These recent developments and the observed widespread dissemination of cancer genomic applications have had a major impact on our recognition of the molecular heterogeneity prevailing between different tumor subtypes within a tumor class. This development is reflected in ASCO naming Molecular Profiling as the Advance of the Year 2021: Molecular Profiling Drives Progress in GI Cancers.

Recent advances in proteogenomics – which utilizes the combination of proteomics, genomics, and transcriptomics – may provide even better prospects to the clinical characterization of tumors, as it may enable more accurate cancer diagnosis, and as result improved treatment choices for cancer patients. However, in order to take full advantage of proteogenomics, we need to see it integrated into clinical trials and patient care, as only this way precision oncology can ultimately deliver the best treatment for cancer patients at the right dose and at the right time.

Amanda Paulovich, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and PMWC Pittsburgh Sep. 23-24 Speaker: “Oncology has become very genome driven and more and more we are selecting targeted therapies for our patients based on DNA sequences. One problem with this approach is that we do not design cancer drugs that target DNA sequences in tumors. We design cancer drugs to target proteins in tumors. It’s really important to understand what proteins are in a tumor and how much of those proteins are present, in order to select the proper therapy that targets those proteins.”

We have created a couple of timely sessions that focus on these promising and complex developments in molecular profiling, including the evolving field of proteogenomics. The two sessions “Adoption of Molecular Profiling in Clinical Oncology” and “Barriers to Health System Implementations of Molecular Profiling” include leaders in the field who have the common goal of removing the barriers of implementing and expediting the adoption of molecular profiling across our health care systems.

Adoption of Molecular Profiling in Clinical Oncology – session chair Marina Nikiforova (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center).
• Marina Nikiforova will focus in her talk on the utility of GlioSeq, an NGS-based test for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of adult and pediatric patients with brain tumors.
• Alexey Aleshin (Natera) will focus in his talk on the emerging role of ctDNA for molecular residual disease (MRD) assessment and recurrence monitoring.
• Ronnie Andrews (Oncocyte) will be discussing the predictions of immunotherapy benefits.
• Taofeek K Owonikoko (UPMC) will provide his insights as a practicing lung cancer treating physician. He is the new UMPC Hematology Oncology chief and has an interest in translational research important to advancing oncology clinical care.
• Amanda Paulovich (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) will share her insights on the added value of proteogenomics to the current genome-wide approach for precision oncology, and summarize the growing incorporation of targeted proteomic measurements based on selected/multiple reaction monitoring (SRM/MRM) mass spectrometry into clinical trials and the clinical laboratory.

Barriers to Health System Implementations of Molecular Profiling – A panel discussion chaired by Brady Davis (Canexia Health)
• Peter Hulick (Northshore University Health System) – Hulick is active in leading efforts to incorporate genomic information and testing into the NorthShore University HealthSystem.
• Cassie Hajek (Sanford Imagenetics; University of South Dakota) – Hajek is a clinical geneticist and a firm believer that genetic knowledge is power.
• Michael B Datto (Duke U. Health System Clinical Laboratories) – Datto is responsible for maintaining the standards of the College of American Pathologists and CLIA/CMS within all clinical laboratories at Duke

It’s not too late to register for our first in-person conference in two weeks, at PMWC Pittsburgh, September 23 & 24, and thus be able to join these important discussions.

I am glad to share that the infection rate in Pittsburgh is one of the lowest in the country and PMWC will be taking all possible covid safety measures.

I’m looking forward to seeing many of you in Pittsburgh!
Tal Behar

President, PMWC
650-961-8877