Press release: AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference

Genetic Alteration Allowing Lung Cancers to Escape the Immune System May Occur Late in Tumor Evolution

A specific genetic alteration that could allow cancer cells to escape the immune system was detected in 40 percent of non–small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) analyzed, according to data presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, held Oct. 26-30. Data suggest that the alteration occurs late in tumor evolution.
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Number of Seamless Clinical Trials in Oncology Has Risen Recently

The number of early-phase trials in oncology that adopted a seamless approach, as opposed to a traditional trial approach with defined phase I, II, and III plans, is rising, with data from the majority of them presented after 2014, according to a study presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, held Oct. 26-30.
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Colorectal Cancers May Mutate to Escape Immune System Detection in Many Ways

Whole exome sequencing revealed that colorectal cancers with high mutational load (MSI-H) predominantly use “immunoediting” to escape immune surveillance while colorectal cancers with low mutational load (MSS) use oncogenic signaling to escape from the immune response, according to data presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, held Oct. 26-30. The data suggest that promoting immune-cell infiltration into MSS colorectal tumors by blocking certain cancer genes could potentially make them respond to immunotherapies.
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New Colorectal Cancer Test Could Detect Early Cancer-causing Genetic Biomarkers with High Degree of Sensitivity

An investigational test that screens for colorectal cancer could detect genetic mutations that are indicative of the disease with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity, according to results of a study presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, held Oct. 26-30.
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A Non-invasive Computational Imaging Approach May Help Predict Response to Immunotherapy

A computational imaging-based signature of immune-cell infiltration in and around a tumor could predict patients’ responses to treatment with anti-PD1/PDL1 immunotherapies, according to data from a study presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, held Oct. 26-30.
Read more about non-invasive computational imaging approach.