Advancing Precision Medicine Through Innovation and Collaboration – ProTarget Milestones, 2024
As the year 2024 comes to an end, we reflect on a series of achievements in ProTarget that have brought us closer to redefining cancer treatment through precision medicine.
Expanding the Evidence for Targeted Treatment
In March, we reached a pivotal milestone as the second cohort of the ProTarget trial progressed to stage 2 following promising results in stage 1. This cohort aims to explore whether patients with BRAF V600-mutated neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) will benefit from treatment with Zelboraf (vemurafenib) and Cotellic (cobimetinib). This achievement further fuels our commitment to exploring targeted therapies for patients who have matching genomic alterations. The cohort is now merged with similar cohorts in the PRIME-ROSE consortium, a collaboration that unifies all European DRUP-like Clinical Trials (DLCTs) and provides a framework for data sharing.
Driving Progress in Oncology Together
ProTarget was well-represented by many Principal Investigators and the sponsor-team at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) conference in Barcelona this year. Together with other DLCTs, we showcased the unique setup of the trial-network, PRIME-ROSE, a collaboration that aims to accelerate the collection and analysis of data across Europe, to increase equal access to precision oncology for all EU-citizens. The potential of DLCTs and this network was widely recognized by both the scientific community and the pharmaceutical industry. New collaborations were initiated, and we look forward to seeing them grow in the coming years.
Exceptional Recognition at Danish Cancer Research Days
In August, ProTarget gained the spotlight at the Danish Cancer Research Days, where our colleague, Tina Kringelbach, was honored with the “Exceptional Young Scientist Abstract” award. The conference was hosted by the Danish Comprehensive Cancer Center (DCCC) and the Danish Multidisciplinary Cancer Groups (DMCG) Her presentation included early results on clinical benefit and showcased ProTarget’s innovative approach to collecting data on targeted treatments for patients who currently lack access to these therapies. This recognition celebrates the implementation of innovative trial designs in clinical research to obtain insight in the potential clinical gains of genomic profiling and precision oncology for patients with advanced cancer.
Patient Stories and Clinical Impact
Throughout the year, we have continued to see positive outcomes for some of our patients. One notable story is that of Kate, who achieved a remarkable response to immunotherapy through her participation in ProTarget. These successes highlight the real-world impact of our research and the hope it brings to patients and their families.
Our Journey Towards More Accessible Precision Oncology Continues
Throughout 2024, we have remained steadfast in our mission to identify the right treatment for the right patient. By systematically collecting and analyzing data, we continue to refine our understanding of how precision medicine can benefit patients with advanced cancer. We are grateful to the patients and their families whose courage and contributions make this work possible. We also wish to express our gratitude to those of you who support us. Without your support we would not be able to succeed with this trial.
As we look forward to 2025, ProTarget will continue to push the boundaries of precision oncology by expanding our clinical and translational research activities striving to make precision medicine a reality for all cancer patients. Thank you for being part of this journey!
Happy New Year!
The ProTarget Study Team
