PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting, precision oncology company Lucence is sharing real-world data supporting clinical applications of its amplicon-based liquid biopsy assay. The data will be presented in on-demand virtual poster sessions, available beginning June 4 at 9 AM EDT.
Lucence is also announcing the formation of a medical advisory board in the United States. Lucence’s Medical Advisory Board will be tasked with providing strategic, patient-centered guidance on research, development, and clinical applications of amplicon-based liquid biopsy tests. Dr. Gilberto Lopes of the University of Miami will join as an advisor.
Gilberto de Lima Lopes Jr., MD, MBA, FAMS is Interim Chief for the Division of Medical Oncology, Medical Director for International Programs and Associate Director for Global Oncology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Miller School of Medicine at University of Miami. Dr. Lopes’ career spans North America, Latin America, and Asia, and he has dedicated much of his time to the issues of cancer control and access to medications in low- and middle-income countries. Dr. Lopes is the Editor-in-Chief of ASCO's Journal of Global Oncology.
“Dr. Lopes is a world-leading oncologist and is committed to the shared vision of accurate, accessible, and affordable precision cancer care for patients everywhere. We are honored to have him join Lucence’s Medical Advisory Board in the United States and know his insights will help inform our clinical approach in the months and years to come,” said Min-Han Tan, Founding CEO and Medical Director of Lucence.
Lucence will be sharing two abstracts as part of Virtual 2021 ASCO highlighting the use of its ultrasensitive amplicon-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay, LiquidHALLMARK®, for advanced cancers in real-world settings. Findings of both abstracts support the clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosis and treatment selection.
The first abstract (#3062), authored by Jonathan Poh and contributors, Comprehensive molecular profiling of advanced cancers in a real-world setting using an ultrasensitive amplicon-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) liquid biopsy assay, detected ctDNA in 70% of cancer samples. In ctDNA-positive lung cancer (n=484), 75% of samples harbored one or more actionable targets for an FDA-approved therapy. Of the 392 patients being treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), 29% harbored a mutation associated with EGFR TKI resistance. The data show how liquid biopsy can detect emerging resistance to therapy and suggest that LiquidHALLMARK can be a useful clinical tool in monitoring response to treatment.
The second abstract to be presented (#3042), in collaboration with the Bivona Lab at UCSF, is authored by Wei Wu and contributors. Targeted ctDNA sequencing analysis reveals concurrent genomic alterations and its impact on TKI and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in advanced NSCLC from an Asian population characterizes the ctDNA-derived genetic landscape of advanced NSCLC from a real-world population. Using Lucence’s LiquidHALLMARK assay, 76% of lung cancer patients were found to have at least 1 actionable mutation relevant to targeted therapy. Investigators also reported the finding of a novel PD-L1 structural rearrangement potentially associated with immune evasion.
As a follow up to Lucence’s programming for 2021 ASCO, on June 29, 2021 at 8:30 PM EDT, Lucence will host New Frontiers in Liquid Biopsy for Lung Cancer, a webinar covering current and cutting-edge applications of liquid biopsy in thoracic oncology. Panelists will include Narjust Duma, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Thoracic Oncology at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Professor Tony Mok, MD, FRCPC, FASCO, Chairman of the Department of Clinical Oncology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Christine M. Lovly, MD, PhD, Co-Leader of the Translational Research and Interventional Oncology Research Program and Associate Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University. Gilberto Lopes, MD, MBA, Interim Chief of Medical Oncology and Professor at the Miller School of Medicine of the University of Miami will moderate. For more information and to register for the webinar, please visit the Zoom registration page or email asco@lucence.com.
About Lucence
Lucence is a precision oncology company committed to bringing clarity to cancer care. Lucence makes ultrasensitive liquid biopsy tests to provide doctors and their patients life-changing information to enable earlier detection and effective treatment. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Lucence supplies personalized cancer care services through twin CLIA-licensed laboratories in the United States and Singapore. For more information, visit www.lucence.com.
