A novel epigenetic liquid biopsy platform has demonstrated promising results in detecting tumor prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression through a simple blood draw, potentially transforming how clinicians evaluate patients for PSMA-targeted therapies. The findings, presented at the 2024 ESMO Congress, suggest this technology could provide a more accessible alternative to traditional PSMA PET scans.
Breakthrough in Non-invasive PSMA Detection
Dr. Jacob E. Berchuck, assistant professor at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, led the research evaluating this innovative blood-based diagnostic approach for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The study focused on correlating PSMA expression detected through the liquid biopsy platform with traditional PET scan results.
"With a single blood draw, we can potentially profile several therapeutic targets for patients with advanced solid tumors to facilitate precision treatment," explained Dr. Berchuck. The platform, developed by Precede Biosciences, represents a significant advancement in non-invasive diagnostic capabilities compared to previous genomics-focused liquid biopsy tools.
Improving Access to Life-Prolonging Treatments
The development holds particular significance for expanding access to PSMA-targeted therapies, especially 177Lu-PSMA-617 (Pluvicto), which currently requires a PSMA PET scan for treatment eligibility. Many regions, particularly underserved communities, lack access to PET scanning facilities, creating a significant barrier to treatment access.
The blood-based approach offers two key advantages:
- Universal accessibility through routine blood draws at any clinic
- Capability to simultaneously assess multiple therapeutic targets from a single sample
Clinical Impact and Future Applications
The platform's potential extends beyond PSMA detection. As Dr. Berchuck notes, "With liquid biopsy platforms profiling epigenomic features across the entire genome, we can potentially get readouts on multiple tumor drug targets with a simple blood draw."
This capability becomes increasingly important as the field of prostate cancer treatment evolves, with over 30 PSMA-targeting agents currently in development. The technology could help clinicians:
- Better predict treatment responses
- Optimize therapy selection
- Monitor treatment effectiveness
- Reduce unnecessary treatments
Advancing Precision Medicine
The epigenomic profiling approach represents a significant step forward in personalizing cancer treatment. Early results suggest the platform could help stratify patients likely to respond to PSMA-targeted therapies, potentially improving treatment outcomes while reducing ineffective interventions.
Ongoing research aims to validate the platform's ability to predict treatment outcomes, particularly for 177Lu-PSMA-617 therapy. Results from these studies are expected later this year, potentially establishing this technology as a valuable tool in the growing arsenal of precision oncology approaches.
