KUALA LUMPUR: RS Oncology, a clinical stage biotechnology company was part of a collaboration that recently shared new preclinical data at the IASLC 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer in Singapore.
Presented by Dr Dean Fennell, the data represented a partnership between RS Oncology and other lead research institutions, including the University of Leicester and the Cunniff Laboratory at the University of Vermont Cancer Center.
“Sarcomatoid tumours are highly resistant to anti-cancer therapies, and many patients run out of available treatment options. Our findings might have unveiled a druggable ‘Achilles Heel’ against this terrible disease,” said Dr Fennell, presenting author on the study.
According to a statement, mesotheliomas can transform from a less aggressive epithelioid malignancy to a more aggressive sarcomatoid form.
Using biphasic mesotheliomas as a model containing both epithelioid and sarcomatoid features, investigators at the University of Leicester, led by Dr Fennell, conducted a geospatial analysis of patient tissues to explore the molecular signatures associated with the histological regions.
The group found that the more aggressive sarcomatoid regions had distinct molecular signatures driving pro-tumour pathways, drug resistance and increased metastatic potential, using sophisticated spatial analysis tools coupled with machine learning approaches.
These findings were validated across an independent cohort of 150 mesothelioma patient tissues. Notably, tumour regions containing sarcomatoid tissue showed features of increased resistance to oxidative stress, a critical tumour cell adaptation for survival.
In collaboration with Dr Brian Cunniff’s laboratory, the team then evaluated molecular signatures of human biphasic mesothelioma tumour cells following treatment with the irreversible PRX3 inhibitor RSO-021.
It is currently being evaluated in a phase one/two clinical trial in patients with malignant pleural effusion caused by advanced/metastatic solid tumours. – BERNAMA
