William M. Grady, MD, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, GI Cancer Prevention Program, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, discusses results from an ongoing prospective study looking at gene expression profiling of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

The ability to monitor response to treatment, resistance, or progression in pancreatic cancer is constrained by current biopsy methods. One of the biggest clinical challenges is access to the tumor, since the formation of scar tissue is common, Grady explains. Without adequate access, traditional biopsy is difficult, which complicates the investigation of novel agents.

In a study conducted at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a new model created by CellPath Therapeutics was used to examine the CTCs in 10 mL of peripheral blood. This tool was able to isolate tumor progenitor cells, extract total RNA, and perform gene-expression analysis. If validated, Grady notes, this tool could revolutionize the management of pancreatic cancer.

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William M. Grady, MD, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, discusses results from an ongoing prospective study looking at gene expression profiling of circulating tumor cells in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Grady on Gene Profiling of CTCs in Pancreatic Cancer

William M. Grady, MD, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, GI Cancer Prevention Program, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, discusses results from a study that examined the association of intrinsic subtypes of colorectal cancer (CRC) with prognosis, chemotherapy response, and other factors.

The group of investigators from this study sought to find molecular markers that could help determine treatment options, Grady explains. This area of research has grown in recent years with the continued focus on targeted therapies. The identification of molecular changes in colon cancer will help identify the most appropriate targeted therapy, resulting in optimal outcomes.

In the study, researchers examined gene expression data from 188 patients with CRC, followed by validation through the examination of 543 patients. Overall, 3 intrinsic subtypes of CRC were identified based on the biology of the tumors. Moreover, these subtypes were each associated with varying outcomes and treatment sensitivity (Find out more, 

Grady believes this trial will usher in a new era for molecular diagnostics in CRC. Furthermore, he states, it will soon be possible to examine molecular changes in CRC overtime and personalize treatment based on these changes.

View coverage from the 2013 GI Cancers Symposium

William M. Grady, MD, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, discusses results from a study that examined the association of intrinsic subtypes of colorectal cancer with prognosis, chemotherapy response, and other factors.

William M. Grady, MD

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Dr. Grady on Gene Profiling of CTCs in Pancreatic Cancer

Dr. Grady Discusses Molecular Subtypes in Colorectal Cancer