2023 - Preclinical Models for the Identification of Chemotherapy Predictive Signatures in Pancreatic Cancer

Chemotherapy remains the primary treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a highly aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. However, treatment regimens are primarily based on patient performance and expected efficacy, underscoring the need for molecular predictors of chemotherapeutic efficacy to improve patient prognosis through personalized treatment.
To address this need, the Pancreatic Cancer Team at the Cancer Research Center of Marseille developed RNA-based signatures to predict the efficacy of all drugs used to treat PDAC. They utilized preclinical models such as primary cell cultures (PCC), patient-derived xenografts (PDX), and patient-derived organoids (PDO) to overcome limitations of individual models. The team combined all three models to produce unbiased predictive RNA-based signatures. This signatures were validated in different patient cohorts, showing significant associations with overall, disease-free, and progression-free survival.
The importance of thorough target validation in the initial stages of pharmaceutical development is also discussed in the presentation. Incomplete preclinical validation can lead to efficacy and toxicity setbacks, highlighting the need for tailor-made strategies for investigating target validation. Oncodesign-services offers innovative approaches, such as PDAC 2D and 3D cell models, CRISPR target modulation, and real-time proliferation, which hold great promise for advancing the field of drug discovery and personalized medicine in pancreatic cancer.
Join the featured speakers for an informative webinar on unlocking the synergy in preclinical models and the importance of target validation for the personalized treatment of pancreatic cancer.