Ongoing Studies

REFLECT

Eligible cancer types: Breast Cancer

The main purpose of this research study is to determine whether growing tumours in mice and testing for response to anticancer drugs is feasible and potentially useful in predicting drug response in humans. This study will also provide biomarker data to the treating oncologist (cancer doctor) about a patient’s cancer, in order to help him or her identify which clinical trials of molecularly targeted therapies may be most appropriate for the patient in the future and to guide the use of approved targeted therapies that may potentially benefit the patient.

NET-SEQ: Prospective Comprehensive Molecular Profiling In Neuroendocrine Tumors

Eligible cancer types: Neuroendocrine tumors

Molecular profiling of fresh tissue samples from neuroendocrine carcinomas using genomic and transcriptomic technologies to discover genetic alterations that may be useful in determining what treatments may be beneficial to the patient’s response or resistance to specific targeted agents, such as mTOR pathway inhibitors. Patients will also have archival paraffin-embedded tumour tissue profiled.

GENIUS: Genomic Investigation of Unusual Responders

Eligible cancer types: Breast, Colorectal, Non-small cell lung, Gynecological, Upper Aerodigestive Tract, Pancreatobiliary, Genitourinary, Unknown Primary, Rare Cancers

The purpose of this study is to investigate tumors that respond abnormally well or poorly to therapeutic agents in an effort to understand the genetic basis of this response. Patients who have responded exceptionally well or exceptionally poorly to certain drugs will have archived tumor specimens molecularly profiled using whole genome/exome sequencing to try to determine if there is a genomic reason for such responses to these agents.

I-IMPACT: Immunoprofiling in IMPACT study

Eligible cancer types: Gynecological, Pancreatic, Head and Neck

This study looks to characterize a patient’s immune contexture as a potential method to more accurately define prognosis and possibly even predict responses to immunotherapies.

HPV-SEQ: Genomic Analysis of HPV-related Lung Metastases from Head and Neck Cancers

Eligible cancer types: Head and Neck, Lung

Sequencing of archived tumor samples from HPV-related lung metastases in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) to identify driver mutations that might be responsible for the metastatic pattern and evaluate concordance of genotyping information for patients with HPV-related HNSCC with HPV-positive lung lesions.

IMPACT: Integrated Molecular Profiling in Advanced Cancers Trial

Eligible cancer types: Breast, Colorectal, Non-small cell lung, Gynecological, Upper Aerodigestive Tract, Pancreatobiliary, Genitourinary, Unknown Primary, Rare Cancers

In March 2012, IMPACT was launched as a pilot study at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. This study involves the molecular profiling of archival paraffin-embedded tumour tissue for Princess Margaret patients with advanced breast, colorectal, non-small cell lung, gynecological, upper aerodigestive tract, pancreatobiliary, genitourinary, unknown primary, and rare cancers, as well as patients with melanoma and phase I trial patients who are candidates for systemic therapy. The primary objective of IMPACT is to provide the treating clinician with molecular profiling information for their patients that may be used to guide treatment and/or clinical trials with matched targeted therapies in the future. Results of molecular profiling are included in patient’s medical records. Through large molecular profiling initiatives such as IMPACT, the goal is that new knowledge can be gained about the genetic alterations or changes in cancers which affect their clinical outcomes and responses to drug therapies.

COMPACT: Community Oncology Molecular Profiling in Advanced Cancers Trial

Eligible cancer types: Breast, Colorectal, Non-small cell lung, Gynecological, Upper Aerodigestive Tract, Pancreatobiliary, Genitourinary, Unknown Primary, Rare Cancers

In November 2012, COMPACT was opened as a parallel arm of the IMPACT study to make molecular profiling available to patients who are receiving their cancer treatment at other Greater Toronto Area hospitals. These patients are referred to the Princess Margaret by their community medical oncologists for participation in this study. A rotating roster of three staff oncologists (Drs. Lillian Siu, Dr. Philippe Bedard, and Dr. Albiruni Razak) assess and consent patients who have been referred to the Princess Margaret for molecular profiling. COMPACT patients remain under the care of their referring physicians. All COMPACT molecular profiling reports are sent to the treating medical oncologist with additional information regarding what is known about detected mutation(s) and available clinical trials with matched targeted therapies when standard of care therapy is no longer effective.

Find out more about COMPACT and how to be referred to this clinic.

OCTOPUS: Feasibility Clinical Study of Circulating Plasma DNA Analysis in Advanced Solid Tumor Patients

Eligible cancer types: Breast, Colorectal, Non-small cell lung, Gynecological, Upper Aerodigestive Tract, Pancreatobiliary, Genitourinary, Unknown Primary, Rare Cancers

This study tests the feasibility of detecting genomic alterations in pieces of tumor DNA (circulating plasma DNA) and tumor cells (circulating tumor cells) in the blood, using different technologies and methods.

MATCH: A Feasibility Study of Genomic Profiling Methods and Timing of Sample Collection to Evaluate Clonal Evolution and Tumor Heterogeneity

Eligible cancer types: Breast, Colorectal, Gynecological, Melanoma

The MATCH study looks at the feasibility of collecting small volume fresh tissue samples via a core needle biopsy and/or fine needle aspiration for the purposes of molecular profiling. Serial sampling and profiling of tumor samples over time also provides insight on the clonal evolution and intratumor heterogeneity of molecular alterations in cancer. All MATCH patients will also be enrolled in the IMPACT study, and results from the molecular profiling of the archival tissue will be included in the patient’s medical record.