IMAC Holdings Inc. has launched Ignite Proteomics LLC, a subsidiary introducing a new precision oncology assay for breast cancer treatment decisions. The assay utilizes Reverse Phase Protein Array (RPPA) technology. A clinical case study published in npj Precision Oncology highlights the potential of RPPA in guiding targeted therapy, even in cases where traditional methods fail to detect relevant biomarkers.
RPPA Assay Shows Promise in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
The newly launched assay is the only commercially available and clinically validated assay that measures both the expression and activated protein drug target levels in breast tumors. This provides a more accurate assessment of the potential effectiveness of targeted cancer therapies. The clinical utility of the Ignite Proteomics assay is demonstrated in a case study involving a 57-year-old woman with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Despite prior treatments, the patient experienced disease progression across multiple sites. As part of a clinical trial at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute (ISCI), comparative analysis was performed using both next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays and Ignite’s RPPA assay on the same biopsy. The RPPA assay identified the expression and activation of HER2, which was missed by NGS analysis and standard HER2 measurement approaches. Consequently, the patient was treated with trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), an antibody-drug conjugate that relies on HER2 expression and activation. After nine cycles, the patient achieved a complete response with no measurable disease.
Implications for Precision Medicine
"The RPPA technology and our novel proteomics assay represent a transformative advancement in the management of breast cancer, providing critical insights that enable us to tailor treatments with greater precision and effectiveness," said Faith Zaslavsky, CEO of IMAC Holdings and Ignite Proteomics. "The remarkable response observed in this case study underscores the role our assay can play in significantly impacting patient outcomes."
Ignite Proteomics' RPPA assay represents a significant step forward in precision medicine, offering a more comprehensive approach to identifying potential therapeutic targets in breast cancer. This technology has the potential to improve treatment outcomes for patients, particularly those with aggressive subtypes like triple-negative breast cancer.
