SAN CARLOS, Calif. and
HACKENSACK, N.J., Feb. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Addario
Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI), Champions Oncology (NASDAQ:
CSBR) and the ROS1ders announce the commencement of a global study
to gain a deeper understanding of ROS1-positive cancer. The study
is developing patient-derived xenografts (PDX) models for
ROS1-fusion driven cancers to understand what drives tumor
development, therapeutic response and acquired resistance to enable
the development of new and more effective therapies against this
under-studied molecular subset of cancer.
ROS1 rearrangements occur in one to three percent of lung,
gastric and ovarian cancers, as well as melanoma,
cholangiocarcinoma, glioblastoma and other cancers. ROS1 is an
enzyme coded by the ROS1 gene. A gene fusion occurs when a gene
abnormally breaks off and fuses with another gene to form a hybrid
gene that can lead to cancer initiation and drive its growth.
Researchers are asking physicians to inform their patients about
this opportunity to help improve treatments and hopefully survival
for others with this cancer mutation.
"When you get a diagnosis like metastatic lung cancer, it is
easy to feel hopeless and helpless," said Tori Tomalia, a ROS1 lung cancer patient. "By
joining up with other ROS1ders, we have empowered ourselves with
our shared knowledge. The Global ROS1 Initiative takes it even
further by actually moving the needle on the research and hopefully
impacting our own survival."
The ALCMI-006 ROS1 PDX Study is the most recent effort driving
The Global ROS1 Initiative, which focuses on improving outcomes for
this uncommon yet clinically important oncogene-driven
cancer. ROS1-positive patients meeting eligibility criteria
may contribute viable tumor tissue to develop the PDX models.
PDX models are developed by implanting a fresh piece of tumor
tissue from a biopsy or surgery from a patient into immunodeficient
mice to act as 'hosts' to allow the tumor to grow and maintain
features similar to the original human tumor. The resultant models
will help researchers understand both the response and the all too
often acquired resistance of lung cancer to drug treatments, and
accelerate new therapies to patients.
"This innovative study will bring new models to study ROS1 in
order to define the best treatments for patients with ROS1 positive
tumors," according to Christine M.
Lovly, MD, PhD, a lung cancer physician-scientist at
Vanderbilt University Medical Center,
which is a member of the ALCMI research consortium. "I am thrilled
to be part of this groundbreaking study, which has been spearheaded
by patients and involves a deep collaboration among the patients,
health care providers, ALCMI and Champions Oncology."
"Champions Oncology is pleased to be a collaborator in this
exceptional patient-driven initiative. The team assembled brings
together shared scientific goals, expertise and commitment that
will ensure the success of creating a unique translational resource
to further understanding of mechanisms of resistance and enable
drug development in ROS1 cancers," said Angela Davies, MD, Chief Medical Officer of
Champions Oncology.
The FDA approved the first ROS1 targeted therapy, crizotinib, in
2016. There are no FDA-approved treatments for patients whose
disease progresses after treatment with crizotinib. ALCMI is
focusing on this under-studied rare subset of cancer to understand
how cancer begins and spreads in these tumors, how these tumors
respond to treatment and what happens when tumors stop responding
to treatment.
"ROS1 positive patients from North
America may now participate in this study, and other
countries will soon follow," said Steven
Young, ALCMI president & Chief Operating Officer. "The
enrollment methods developed by ALCMI from our previous successful
research studies allow for participation by patients wherever they
reside, coupled with strategically-placed Champions' facilities
presently in the United States,
Canada, United Kingdom and Israel."
Unique aspects of this study include the creation of new and
critically needed drug development tools, in partnership with ROS1
positive cancer patients across multiple forms of cancer and
directly facilitated by a lung cancer patient-founded, global
non-profit research consortium with a motivated biotech industry
partner.
To participate in the study or for more information, call
866-988-ROS1 (7671) or go to www.alcmi.net/ROS1PDXstudy.
About ALCMI
The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI, voiced as
"Alchemy"), founded in 2008 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
by lung cancer survivor Bonnie J. Addario, is a patient-centric,
international research consortium driving research otherwise not
possible. Working in tandem with its "partner" foundation the
Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF), ALCMI powers
collaborative initiatives in genetic (molecular) testing,
therapeutic discoveries, targeted treatments and early detection.
ALCMI overcomes barriers to collaboration via a world-class team of
investigators from 26 member institutions in the USA, UK, and
Europe, supported by dedicated, centralized research
infrastructures such as standardized biorepositories and data
systems. ALCMI directly facilitates research by combining
scientific expertise found at leading academic institutions with
patient access through its network of community cancer centers –
accelerating novel research advancements to lung cancer patients.
By providing access to critical masses of patient stakeholders,
academic, community and industry researchers, ALCMI and ALCF are
making progress towards their shared goal of transforming lung
cancer into a chronically managed disease. For more
information visit: http://alcmi.net/
About Champions Oncology
Champions Oncology, Inc. is engaged in the development of
advanced technology solutions and services to personalize the
development and use of oncology drugs. The Company's technology
platform is a novel approach to personalizing cancer care based
upon the implantation of primary human tumors in immune deficient
mice followed by propagation of the resulting engraftments, or
Champions TumorGrafts, in a manner that preserves the biological
characteristics of the original human tumor in order to determine
the efficacy of a treatment regimen. The Company uses this
technology in conjunction with related services to offer solutions
for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies seeking personalized
approaches to drug development that can lower the cost and increase
the speed of developing new drugs. TumorGrafts are procured through
agreements with a number of institutions in the U.S. and overseas
as well as through Champions' Personalized Oncology Solutions
business, in which results help guide the development of
personalized treatment plans for individual patients.
For more information visit Champions Oncology, Inc's website at
http://www.championsoncology.com.
About ROS1ders
The ROS1ders, voiced as "ross wonders", are a group of patients
and caregivers dealing with cancers of all types that test positive
for acquired ROS1 rearrangements. We are building a community to
accelerate ROS1 research, improve patient outcomes and turn ROS1
positive cancer into a manageable chronic disease. ROS1der members
include over 180 patients and caregivers from 20 countries
worldwide. For more information visit: https://ros1cancer.com,
http://www.lungcancerfoundation.org/patients/ros1/.
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SOURCE Champions Oncology, Inc.