RESULTS OF THE SUPPORTED RESEARCH ON LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSTIC PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT

The second research project supported by the RUSSCO/RakFond’s Young Scientist & Early Career Investigator Oncology Research Grant has been completed in Saint-Petersburg. The aim of this project was to develop a diagnostic method to detect one of the tumor cells resistance mechanisms to targeted therapy, i.e., the third generation (the latest among the approved drugs) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer.

Within the scope of the project, a diagnostic platform for C797S mutation detection in circulating tumor DNA in blood plasma was successfully developed. This test is intended for the treatment efficacy monitoring, timely identification of disease progression in order to determine tactics of further therapy in case of tumor resistance to the drug being used. The validation of the method was done by the allele-specific real-time PCR and synthesized control samples with the C797S mutation.

The clinical part of the project included detection of resistance mutation C797S in circulating tumor DNA in a group of patients who received osimertinib (third generation TKI) as a second-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. Collection and analysis of blood plasma samples were performed at the St. Petersburg Clinical Research and Practical Center of Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncologic). The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethical Committee. The first results were obtained, further clinical work on samples collection and mutation detection in this group of patients is planned.

The results of this research will shortly be published by Mariya Stepanova and her colleagues. Stay tuned!

Photo credit: umseas on VisualHunt / CC BY

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