Is it possible to predict the best treatment option for cancer patients? Giuseppe Toia, MD, MS, and the research team at the UW Department of Radiology are investigating this possibility. 

Taking part in a nationwide clinical trial sponsored by Madison-based company Elephas, the team collects biopsy samples throughout patients’ treatment with checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs). CPIs can be highly effective for some patients, but knowing which drug will work best for a patient proves challenging – current diagnostic methods do not accurately predict a patient’s response to treatment.  

A patient’s actual clinical response to CPI treatment is measured by evaluating the samples via a live tumor fragment platform in which native cellular architecture and tumor microenvironment are kept intact. In turn, the response is compared to a validated score predicted by the company’s platform to evaluate its accuracy. If proven to be accurate, the platform could be a beneficial tool in creating clinical treatment plans engineered for individual patients. 

Recruiting participants is a vital step in any clinical trial, and the department’s study coordination team was more than up to the task. The team facilitated recruitment of many patients who ultimately provided a substantial amount of viable biopsy specimens across a variety of cancer types. This was only possible through thoughtfully coordinated planning, contacting potential participants, and ensuring they understood the trial process. 

Participation in the trial is straightforward. Patients receive nearly identical care as they would have if they were not participating; they simply have an additional tissue sample taken at their regularly scheduled clinical standard of care biopsy appointments. Though there is little difference on the participant side, their contributions may have a lasting impact on personalized oncological care. 

Initial trial results were recently published in the Journal of Translational Medicine and  Cell Reports Medicine.