Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s, Dr. Cristina Antonescu, Releases Presentation on GIST Cancer Research
Antonescu Research Lab Synopsis • A Proposal For 2018-2019 Funding
1. Investigate a novel method to screen whole genome copy number alterations through a multiplex sparse sequencing as a tool to identify genomic alterations in low to intermediate risk GIST patients. This method uses archival material and has the advantage of having a high turn-around time and being a rather unexpensive sequencing tool, which can replace the more laborious methods, such as conventional karyotyping or array CGH methods. Once identified, these additional genetic events will be used in conjunction to the routinely used mitotic count and KIT genotype to better select patients for adjuvant Gleevec, as well as more accurately inform regarding risk of malignancy. The proposed study includes a selected 35 low to intermediate risk GISTs with available DNA, genotype information and clinical data.
2. Our lab has been at the forefront of evaluating immune markers by immunohistochemistry as biomarkers for response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in various clinical trials. Pre and post-therapy biopsies are used as part of the immunotherapy correlative studies. We have available tissue biopsies from 2 on-going clinical trials where we are investigating the content and extent of immune infiltrates with various markers, such as PD-1 expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, PDL1 and other additional markers. We are in the process of analyzing an algorithm based on the immune infiltrate in the pre-therapy tissue which can predict the response to these drugs. The method used is ‘multiplex immunohistochemistry with immunofluorescence analysis’.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are important research studies that explore whether a particular medical strategy or treatment is safe and effective for GIST Cancer patients. These studies also may show which medical approaches work best for treating GIST cancer. The following trials are being held according to eligibility. Click the links for more information.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Dr. Ping Chi & Dr. Ciara Kelly
A Phase 3 Study of Ripretinib Versus Sunitinib in People With Advanced GIST Tumors With Certain Genetic Changes
An International, Phase 3, Randomized, Multicenter, Open Label Study of Ripretinib vs Sunitinib in Patients with Advanced Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) with KIT Exon 11 and Co-occurring KIT Exons 17 and, or 18 Mutations Who Were Previously Treated with Imatinib (INSIGHT) (WCG IRB)
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Dr. Margaret von Mehren
This is a Phase 3, open-label, international, multicenter study of CGT9486 in combination with sunitinib. This is a multi-part study that will enroll approximately 426 patients. Part 1 consists of two evaluations: 1) confirming the dose of an updated formulation of CGT9486 to be used in subsequent parts in approximately 20 patients who have received at least one prior line of therapy for GIST and 2) evaluating for drug-drug interactions between CGT9486 and sunitinib in approximately 18 patients who have received at least two prior tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for GISTs. The second part of the study will enroll approximately 388 patients who are intolerant to, or who failed prior treatment with imatinib only and will compare the efficacy of CGT9486 plus sunitinib to sunitinib alone with patients being randomized in a 1:1 manner.