Complex biomarker studies help optimize treatment for rare or hard-to-treat cancers

Every day, hospitals face huge challenges in treating rare or very advanced cancers, because in general, the guidelines for managing treatment are inadequate or do not exist at all. For patients in these circumstances, personalized therapy models based on molecular testing are a very promising option for providing them with well-tolerated, modern, effective treatment that can extend their lives and ensure good quality of life.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer ITEM site in Regensburg played a vital role in designing and executing a complex biomarker study as part of the Omics/Genomics/Liquid Biopsy lighthouse project by the Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF). The goal of the project is for a network of Bavaria’s six university hospitals and their affiliated analysis laboratories to conduct an extensive analysis of specimens from primary FFPE tumors, particularly liquid biopsies of blood and saliva, using “omics” technologies and functional tests and to integrate the results into treatment models. The results will be made directly available to the molecular tumor board for the purposes of personalized treatment management, within a time frame that allows the treatment to be carried out. Beginning in 2024, the concept will be tested in a clinical setting as part of a prospective feasibility study with patients that have salivary gland tumors. As part of this project, in addition to participating in the coordination of the study, Fraunhofer ITEM will conduct functional, in-vitro tests for drug sensitivity on organoids generated from liquid biopsies. Then, the Fraunhofer team and their research partners from the BZKF will work together to study the results further for signs of primary and secondary resistance to treatment.