OncoHost Presents New Research Revealing Biological Drivers of TKI Sensitivity in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma at ESMO 2026

BINYAMINA, Israel and CARY, N.C., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- OncoHost, a technology company transforming the approach to predictive precision diagnostics for improved patient outcomes, today announced new research that was presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2026 Congress, taking place October 23–27 in Madrid, Spain.

The study, "Plasma Proteomics Reveals the Biological Landscape of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKI) Sensitivity in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma," examines the biological basis of a model that uses pretreatment plasma proteomics to classify patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) as TKI-Positive or TKI-Negative, indicating who is more likely to benefit from first-line ICI–TKI combination therapy versus dual immunotherapy.

Poster Presentation:

Title: Plasma Proteomics Reveals the Biological Landscape of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKI) Sensitivity in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Presenting Author: Liliana Ascione

Session Date & Location: Friday, October 23 (15:15 - 16:00), Madrid, Spain

Session: Renal cancer, Poster Area Hall 5

Poster Number: 3599P

New analysis connects the model's predictive proteins to angiogenesis, inflammation, and other biological processes relevant to TKI sensitivity and resistance.

Selecting the most appropriate first-line treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) remains a major clinical challenge. Physicians must choose among effective treatment approaches, including dual immunotherapy and immunotherapy combined with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), with limited biomarker guidance on which strategy is most likely to benefit an individual patient. A blood-based model that helps identify patients more likely to benefit from a TKI-containing regimen could provide additional information to support this decision.

Developed through a collaboration between OncoHost and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the model addresses this need by analyzing plasma proteins collected before treatment. New research presented at ESMO connects clinical findings with established mechanisms relevant to kidney cancer treatment.

"We previously identified a plasma proteomic score associated with better outcomes after VEGFR TKI treatment in renal cell carcinoma (RCC)," said Wenxin Xu, MD, Oncologist and Principal Investigator at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. "We now delve into the underlying biology of this model and show that vascular remodeling, angiogenesis, inflammation, and extracellular matrix remodeling pathways form the basis of TKI sensitivity in RCC."

Previously developed in 119 patients and independently validated in 59 patients, the model classifies patients as TKI-Positive or TKI-Negative. Patients with a TKI-Positive result had significantly longer overall survival on ICI–TKI combination therapy versus dual immunotherapy (HR 0.14; p=0.003). A significant treatment-by-model interaction (p=0.003) supported its potential to inform treatment selection. The ESMO study examined whether the model proteins reflect biological processes relevant to TKI activity and resistance.

Key findings include:

• Strong angiogenic signature: Of 169 core predictive proteins, 82 were associated with angiogenesis and vascular remodeling, including key components of the VEGF signaling pathway.
• Multiple pathways: Additional proteins were associated with VEGF-independent angiogenesis, inflammation, tumor plasticity, and extracellular matrix remodeling, highlighting the complexity of TKI sensitivity and resistance.
• Tumor microenvironment insights: Protein origin analyses suggested that the proteomic signature reflects biological contributions from tumor cells, immune cells, and host stromal compartments.

The model proteins also overlapped with previously described angiogenic molecular programs in RCC. Together, these findings provide a biologically coherent explanation for the model's association with TKI outcomes. They suggest that the plasma signature reflects multiple aspects of treatment sensitivity and resistance, extending beyond a single angiogenic pathway. The analysis supports biological plausibility while generating hypotheses for further investigation.

"What makes these findings compelling is the convergence of the mathematics, the biology, and, most importantly, the clinical signal," said Ofer Sharon, MD, CEO of OncoHost. "We didn't set out to build a model around angiogenesis. The proteins were selected purely because of their ability to predict outcomes with ICI-TKI therapy. The fact that so many of them independently converge on vascular remodeling, angiogenesis, and VEGF-related pathways suggests that the classifier is capturing meaningful biology underlying response to TKI therapy, rather than simply identifying a statistical pattern."

About OncoHost

OncoHost is a technology company headquartered in Binyamina, Israel, and Cary, North Carolina, transforming the approach to precision medicine for improved patient outcomes. OncoHost's proprietary platform, PROphet®, is a plasma-based, proteomic pattern analysis tool whose initial offering in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) uses a single blood sample to guide first-line immunotherapy decision-making. The PROphetNSCLC® test provides clear clinical utility by offering physicians crucial guidance on the optimal treatment plan for each individual patient, with a significant effect on overall survival.

Led by an experienced team of entrepreneurs and industry experts and supported by a large-scale prospective clinical trial with over 40 sites and 1,700 patients recruited worldwide, OncoHost is well-positioned to lead precision diagnostics and biomarker development to the next stage.

For more information, visit www.oncohost.com, or follow OncoHost on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube.

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