TROP2 NMR as a Predictive Biomarker Across Multiple Patient Cohorts: Insights From TR

The TROPION-PanTumor01 and TROPION-PanTumor02 data sets further reinforce the predictive value of the TROP2 NMR biomarker across diverse patient populations and treatment regimens. One key study involved a cohort of Chinese patients treated with datopotamab deruxtecan, where TROP2 positivity by NMR correlated with improved progression-free survival. This finding highlights the biomarker’s potential universality, especially important given that the artificial intelligence (AI)-driven model was initially trained on a different population. Similarly, the TROPION-LUNG02 study assessed TROP2 NMR’s predictive ability in patients receiving combination therapies, including datopotamab deruxtecan with immunotherapy and chemotherapy, and observed consistent biomarker performance in identifying responders.

Notably, the data from these multiple independent cohorts support the reproducibility of the TROP2 NMR assay, which is critical when validating an AI-based biomarker. The consistent association between biomarker positivity and treatment response, even across different lines of therapy and patient demographics, strengthens the evidence that TROP2 NMR is a robust predictive marker. This contrasts with prognostic markers that indicate overall disease outcome irrespective of treatment. Ongoing prospective trials are expected to provide even more definitive validation, ensuring that this biomarker can reliably guide treatment decisions in clinical practice.

The distinction between predictive and prognostic biomarkers is crucial. In trials comparing datopotamab deruxtecan with docetaxel, the TROP2 NMR biomarker did not differentiate outcomes in the docetaxel group, indicating it is not simply prognostic. Instead, it specifically predicted which patients would benefit from the targeted therapy, with TROP2-positive patients showing significantly better response rates and progression-free survival. This predictive capacity, coupled with the strong HR observed in treated groups, underscores the potential of TROP2 NMR to inform personalized treatment strategies and improve clinical outcomes in patients with lung