Precede Biosciences presented data at the AACR LBx 2024 conference showcasing the potential of its novel epigenomic liquid biopsy platform to predict treatment response in prostate cancer patients. The research indicates that a simple blood test could accurately quantify tumor drug target expression and stratify patients likely to respond to Lutetium-PSMA therapy.
The study focused on men with advanced metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), a condition affecting an estimated 120,000 men in the USA. Lutetium-PSMA is an FDA-approved treatment option for these patients, but requires a PSMA-PET scan to confirm tumor PSMA expression before administration.
Non-Invasive PSMA Expression Readout
According to Dr. Jacob E. Berchuck, Assistant Professor at Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute, the study highlights the potential of epigenomic profiling from a blood draw to provide a real-time, non-invasive readout of PSMA expression that corresponds with treatment response. This is particularly significant given the limited accessibility of PSMA-PET scans across the USA and globally.
The data presented demonstrated that Precede Bio's liquid biopsy platform could accurately determine tumor PSMA expression from a blood sample, correlating with response to Lutetium-PSMA treatment. This could potentially eliminate the need for PSMA-PET scans in some patients, improving access to Lutetium-PSMA therapy.
Broader Implications for PSMA-Targeting Therapies
Rehan Verjee, Co-founder and CEO of Precede Bio, emphasized the broader applicability of the platform, noting that there are more than 70 new medicines in clinical development against 25 cell surface targets, including PSMA. The platform's ability to resolve target expression from a simple blood draw underscores its potential to play an important role in enabling the success of these emerging medicines.
The company also presented an oral presentation titled, “Comprehensive epigenomic profiling from plasma to inform drug development, cancer biology, and therapy selection.”
About Precede Biosciences
Precede Biosciences is focused on developing precision medicine tools that utilize a comprehensive epigenomic liquid biopsy platform. Their goal is to improve drug development success rates and provide patients with rapid, minimally invasive diagnostics and targeted therapies.
