Foundation Medicine and Collaborators to Share New Data During the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program Showcasing the Importance of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP) in Informing Advanced Cancer Clinical Decision-Making

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Foundation Medicine, Inc. today announced that new data supporting the clinical use of its portfolio of tissue and liquid comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) tests will be presented at the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Virtual Scientific Program, which will be held from May 29 to May 31. The company and its collaborators will present a total of 22 studies, including two clinical symposia presentations and one poster discussion. The data highlight insights into the utility of liquid biopsy CGP testing to help inform treatment selection across a variety of advanced cancers and the predictive role of tumor mutational burden (TMB) as a genomic signature to optimize precision medicine approaches.

Highlights of these presentations include:

• new data demonstrating the use of liquid biopsy CGP to identify predictive and prognostic biomarkers to improve clinical outcomes for patients with advanced cancer, including metastatic breast cancer, non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) and prostate cancer;
• additional evidence of the role of complex biomarkers and genomic signatures such as TMB may have in patient response to targeted therapies and immunotherapies; and
• the clinical value of liquid biopsy as a tool for oncologists in various treatment settings, including the ability to identify resistance mechanisms across primary and metastatic tumors and enable precision medicine.

“At this meeting, we’ll share new data demonstrating the use of clinically relevant insights from our tissue and liquid comprehensive genomic profiling tests to inform treatment decision-making and improve patient outcomes through methods such as identifying resistance mechanisms,” said Brian Alexander, M.D., M.P.H., chief medical officer at Foundation Medicine. “We’re at an important juncture in personalized medicine where pan-tumor complex signatures such as TMB and MSI are growing in their clinical importance, and our data show the unique ability of CGP to investigate these nuanced biomarkers of response and advance precision treatment approaches.”

Clinical Validity of Liquid Biopsy Comprehensive Genomic Profiling

In a study conducted in collaboration with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, researchers characterizing NSCLC cases found MET exon 14 skipping alterations present in 2.3 percent of tumor DNA samples, representing six major subtypes. The analysis of paired tumor and liquid biopsy samples identified potential acquired resistance mechanisms that may be critical to predicting response to MET inhibitors and identifying matched targeted therapy options, which have recently shown clinical efficacy for this subset of patients, demonstrating the importance of testing NSCLC patients for these alterations.

[Characterization of 1,387 NSCLCs with MET exon 14 (METex14) skipping alterations (SA) and potential acquired resistance (AR) mechanisms. Abstract #9511.]

In a retrospective analysis, researchers compared more than 325,000 tumor tissue samples to over 28,000 patient-matched plasma samples to understand the clinical validity of liquid biopsy CGP in detecting kinase fusions. Kinase gene fusions identified by tissue-based CGP were also detected by liquid biopsy CGP in temporally-matched plasma samples, with high positive percent agreement between tissue and liquid biopsies. The analysis of liquid biopsy samples also identified acquired alterations consistent with known mechanisms of resistance.

[Pan-tumor analyses of kinase fusions detected in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and concordance with paired tissue. Abstract #3517. Poster #247.]

A clinically advanced prostate cancer study used CGP on pre-treatment primary tumor biopsy, post-treatment metastatic biopsy and liquid biopsy to uncover differences in genomic alterations and potential impact on treatment selection. The study demonstrated how systemic treatment resulted in genomic changes in metastases as the tumor evolves to survive. Given the variance between metastatic sites, liquid biopsy may capture a broader range of therapy opportunities for patients.

[Contrasting genomic profiles in post-systemic treatment metastatic sites (MET), pretreatment primary tumors (PT), and liquid biopsies (LB) of clinically advanced prostate cancer (PC). Abstract #5534. Poster #115.]

Complex Biomarkers as Predictor of Immunotherapy Response

In an analysis of the Phase III IMvigor130 study, researchers explored the potential predictive role of TMB, PD-L1 expression and T-effector gene expression biomarkers in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer. The results reinforce the potential predictive nature of biomarkers associated with response or resistance to atezolizumab monotherapy or atezolizumab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy.

[Tumor, immune, and stromal characteristics associated with clinical outcomes with atezolizumab (atezo) + platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) or atezo monotherapy (mono) versus PBC in metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) from the phase III IMvigor130 study. Abstract #5011.]

The following is a list of select abstracts that will be presented at the meeting. To access all abstracts being presented by Foundation Medicine and its collaborators, please visit: meetinglibrary.asco.org.

About Foundation Medicine

Foundation Medicine is a molecular information company dedicated to a transformation in cancer care in which treatment is informed by a deep understanding of the genomic changes that contribute to each patient’s unique cancer. The company offers a full suite of comprehensive genomic profiling assays to identify the molecular alterations in a patient’s cancer and match them with relevant targeted therapies, immunotherapies and clinical trials. Foundation Medicine’s molecular information platform aims to improve day-to-day care for patients by serving the needs of clinicians, academic researchers and drug developers to help advance the science of molecular medicine in cancer. For more information, please visit www.FoundationMedicine.com or follow Foundation Medicine on Twitter (@FoundationATCG).

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Source: Foundation Medicine

Contacts

Foundation Medicine Contact:
Lee-Ann Murphy, 617-245-3077

[email protected]