SAN CARLOS, Calif. and
HACKENSACK, N.J., Aug. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The
Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI), Champions Oncology
(NASDAQ: CSBR), and the ROS1ders (voiced as "ross wonders")
announce a preclinical study that will develop new models of
cancers expressing a ROS1 gene rearrangement. This study is
part of The Global ROS1 Research Initiative, which focuses on
improving outcomes for this uncommon yet clinically important
oncogene-driven cancer. The strength and novelty of the initiative
stems from the ROS1ders driving the collaboration among cancer
advocacy organizations, industry partners and researchers. The
ROS1ders are a group of patients and caregivers dealing with ROS1
positive cancers, regardless of where the cancer originated.
"The Global ROS1 Research Initiative will gather vital research
material from ROS1 patients who are otherwise too geographically
dispersed to support a traditional clinical research project," said
Lisa Goldman, one of the
initiative's founders and a ROS1 lung cancer patient. "The
enthusiasm and support from the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer
Foundation and ALCMI has been essential to the success of this
ground-breaking patient-driven project."
ALCMI, a non-profit, patient-founded, international cancer
research organization, collaborated with the ROS1ders to create the
ALCMI-006 study, which will generate cancer models from tumor
tissue donated by the ROS1ders after biopsies and surgeries. ALCMI
will lead the study and Champions Oncology (NASDAQ: CSBR) will
contribute their extensive experience creating patient-derived
xenograft (PDX) mouse models. Champions has research labs
strategically located throughout the US, UK, Israel and South
Korea.
"The study will use online enrollment methods developed by ALCMI
for other research studies to enable participation by the global
ROS1der community," said Steven
Young, ALCMI president & COO.
ROS1 rearrangements are found in a wide variety of cancer
types but are relatively uncommon, occurring in one to three
percent of lung, gastric and ovarian cancers, as well as melanoma,
cholangiocarcinoma, glioblastoma and other cancers. Researchers
have studied ROS1 primarily in lung cancer, which is the leading
cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The FDA approved
crizotinib, the first ROS1 targeted therapy, in 2016 for the
treatment of patients with ROS1 positive lung cancer. However,
there are no other FDA approved ROS1 targeted therapies for
patients whose disease progresses after treatment with
crizotinib.
This first of its kind study will create a collection of ROS1
cancer models – specifically PDX mouse models and cell lines –
along with genomic sequencing data and patient medical histories
for the models. The PDX models will be generated from an individual
patient's tumor tissue implanted and grown in an immune-deficient
mouse, which preserves the biological characteristics of the
original patient tumor.
"Champions Oncology is pleased to expand its research
collaborations by partnering with ALCMI for this patient-driven
initiative to establish a unique cohort of models in ROS1 positive
cancers," said Angela M. Davies, MD,
chief medical officer, Champions Oncology Inc.
"Champions and ALCMI are combining their respective
infrastructure, expertise and scientific commitment to build PDX
models in this rare subtype of cancer and make those models
available to academic and industry researchers, Dr. Davies said.
"This PDX resource will facilitate development of new therapies and
understanding mechanisms of resistance in ROS1 cancers."
"We know that lung cancer is not just one disease, but rather
many different diseases. Through the study of ROS1 positive
cancers, we are tackling that part of the overall cancer
landscape," said Christine M. Lovly,
MD, PhD, a lung cancer physician-scientist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and member of
the ALCMI network. "This is a paradigm shifting study, which has
been spearheaded by a group of passionate and dedicated patients
who are trying to advance treatment options for ROS1 positive
cancers."
About ALCMI
The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI, voiced as
"Alchemy"), founded in 2008 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
by lung cancer survivor Bonnie J. Addario, is a patient-centric,
international research consortium driving research otherwise not
possible. Working in tandem with its "partner" foundation the
Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF), ALCMI powers
collaborative initiatives in genetic (molecular) testing,
therapeutic discoveries, targeted treatments and early detection.
ALCMI overcomes barriers to collaboration via a world-class team of
investigators from 26 member institutions in the USA, UK, and
Europe, supported by dedicated, centralized research
infrastructures such as standardized biorepositories and data
systems. ALCMI directly facilitates research by combining
scientific expertise found at leading academic institutions with
patient access through its network of community cancer centers –
accelerating novel research advancements to lung cancer patients.
By providing access to critical masses of patient stakeholders,
academic, community and industry researchers, ALCMI and ALCF are
making progress towards their shared goal of transforming lung
cancer into a chronically managed disease by 2023.
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 followed by propagation of
the resulting engraftments, or Champions TumorGrafts, in a manner
that preserves 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 pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies seeking personalized approaches to drug development that
can lower the cost and increase the speed of developing new drugs.
TumorGrafts are procured through agreements with a number of
institutions in the U.S. and overseas as well as through Champions'
Personalized Oncology Solutions business, in which results help
guide the development of personalized treatment plans for
individual patients.
For more information, visit Champions Oncology, Inc's website
(www.championsoncology.com)
About ROS1ders
The ROS1ders are a group of patients
and caregivers dealing with cancers of all types that test positive
for acquired ROS1 rearrangements. We are building a community to
accelerate ROS1 research, improve patient outcomes and turn ROS1
positive cancer into a manageable chronic disease. ROS1der members
include over 180 patients and caregivers from 20 countries
worldwide. For more information visit: https://ros1cancer.com,
http://www.lungcancerfoundation.org/patients/ros1/
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