Integrating Next-Generation Sequencing and Champions Oncology's TumorGrafts Provides Highly Accurate Prediction of Cancer Treatment Benefit, According to Results Published in Clinical Cancer Research

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Apr 28, 2014, 08:00 ET

HACKENSACK, N.J., April 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Results from a study published in Clinical Cancer Research demonstrate that oncologists were able to accurately predict which therapies patients would respond to by using a combination of next-generation sequencing and drug sensitivity testing in mouse avatars (Champions TumorGrafts®) developed by Champions Oncology (OTC: CSBR). The paper, titled "Integrated Next Generation Sequencing and Avatar Mouse Models for Personalized Cancer Treatment," was published in the March issue of Clinical Cancer Research.

"Clinical genomic sequencing enables the identification of genetic aberrations, which may drive tumor growth and represent possible targets for drug therapy," said Manuel Hidalgo, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre. "However, the vast majority of aberrations identified are not actionable, and therefore, an accurate method to test the efficacy of drugs, such as the mouse avatar model is critical to inform therapeutic decision making."

In this study, researchers successfully established mouse avatar models for ten patients whose tumors underwent next generation sequencing. The therapies that would be tested in each mouse avatar model were selected based on the genetic alterations identified in patient's tumor, and drug activity in the mouse model was compared to the expected results, based on sequencing data, as well as to a patient's clinical outcome, where available. Furthermore, the mouse avatars were used to test potentially active drugs, including chemotherapy, where no actionable genetic alterations were found.

Of the 13 treatment decisions to be avatar directed for these patients to date, the avatar response mimicked the patient response in 11 cases. This strong correlation between the drug activity in the avatar and clinical outcome in the patient demonstrates the utility of mouse avatars in identifying the alterations that are, or are not, of clinical relevance and also for translating genomic data to inform treatment selections.

"Next-generation sequencing is synergistic with the TumorGraft technology by informing the selection of therapies to be tested using TumorGrafts," Ronnie Morris, M.D., President of Champions Oncology. "In this study, the value of the mouse avatars was even more compelling in cases where sequencing did not yield an actionable target. Champions will continue to evaluate the impact of combining these tools for optimizing patient outcomes."

Champions TumorGraft is a personalized approach used to guide physician treatment decisions for cancer patients. A piece of the patient's living tumor is removed during surgery or biopsy and engrafted in immune-deficient mice. After the TumorGraft grows, still closely resembling the patient's tumor, Champions Oncology tests drug treatments in the TumorGraft and measures the response. Champions' TumorGraft experience has demonstrated high rates of predictability using multiple therapies, including single-agent and combination, chemotherapy regimens and targeted biological drugs.

Every TumorGraft is preserved as a living sample for future patient use. These banked TumorGrafts can be re-grown and tested in the event of cancer progression or recurrence. They have been successfully utilized in most solid tumor types including colorectal, ovarian, lung, breast, sarcoma, pancreatic, stomach, esophageal and others.

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 to create TumorGrafts that preserve 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 two customer groups: Personalized Oncology Solutions, in which results help guide the development of personalized treatment plans, and Translational Oncology Solutions, in which pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies seeking personalized approaches to drug development can lower the cost and increase the speed of developing new drugs. For more information, please visit www.championsoncology.com.

SOURCE Champions Oncology, Inc.