NewsRelease
JournalArticle by Leiden University Medical Center and Biotech Support GroupDescribes a Gene Signature Ratio that Predicts Survival in ColonCancer
MONMOUTHJUNCTION, NJ, January10, 2022 -- Biotech Support Group (BSG) and Leiden University MedicalCenter (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands, announce publication of ajournal article in the publication Cancers. It is based upon on theirjoint goal to correlate BSG’s patent pending Stroma Liquid Biopsy™panel of blood-borne biomarkers, to tissue derived tumor-stroma ratio(TSR) scoring methods developed by LUMC. The citation is:
Ravensbergen,Cor J., et al. "TheStroma Liquid Biopsy Panel Contains a Stromal-Epithelial GeneSignature Ratio That Is Associated with the Histologic Tumor-StromaRatio and Predicts Survival in Colon Cancer." Cancers 14.1(2022): 163.
Liquidbiopsy has emerged as a novel approach to tumor characterization,offering advantages in sample accessibility and tissue heterogeneity.However, as mutational analysis predominates, the tumormicroenvironment has largely remained unacknowledged in liquid biopsyresearch. The Stroma Liquid Biopsy™ (SLB) proteomics panelcomprises a set of 13 proteins from interconnected stromal pathways(i.e., coagulation, complement, acute phase inflammation) and isbelieved to capture a plasma proteomic blueprint indicative of aderanged systemic response in cancer. As such, it encompasses theimportance of the tumor microenvironment (TME) compartment in liquidbiopsy. Within similar context, the histologic tumor-stroma ratio(TSR), a stroma-derived biomarker developed by LUMC, has beenvalidated as an independent predictor of patient survival in variousprimary tumor types. The current work provides an explorative genetranscriptomic characterization of the SLB proteomics panel in coloncarcinoma by integrating single-cell and bulk transcriptomics datafrom publicly available repositories. 
TheStromal-EpithelialGene Signature Ratio,is based on genes from the SLB panel, and classified by theirexpression as being derived from stromal-phenotypic or epithelial-phenotypic cells. In this way, it is demonstrated thathistologic high stromal content is accompanied by increased geneexpression of stroma-associated pathways in comparison to tumors withlow stromal content. The gene signature ratio described in this studywas found to be related to previous investigations of TSR anddemonstrated a remarkably similar prognostic performance. Thesefindings provide further molecular evidence for the prognostic powerof the tumor stroma in clinical practice.
Inaddition to patient prognosis, high gene signature ratio-risk scoreswere associated with an increased proportion of Microsatelliteinstability (MSI) in comparison to low ratio-risk scores. Given theincreased proportion of MSI in the high ratio risk score group, thesignature ratio might be predictive of immune checkpoint inhibitor(ICI) therapy response in colon cancer and should be the subject offuture studies in ICI therapy-treated patient cohorts.
Thecurrent report provides a first theoretical framework for proteomicsignatures to potentially serve as an indicator for tumor-stromacontent when applied in liquid biopsy. Ultimately, the stromalconditioning protein blueprint, as captured by the SLB panel, mayprovide a more refined stratification of the tumor and patientprognosis, and offer new insights into therapeutic strategies thatmight beneficially modulate the tumor-microenvironment.
“Thisis a very exciting article to have published, as LUMC has been at theforefront in research on the microenvironment componentry of cancer.While most cancer research is focused on genomic mutations, even withthe introduction of immuno-therapies, we still know very little aboutindividualistic hospitality to uncontrolled cellular proliferation.So BSG set out to answer whether stromal conditioning was measurablein blood sera, to most if not all cancers, regardless of primarytumor, stage, or metastatic disease. This discovery research led toour patent pending panel of Stroma Liquid Biopsy™ proteomicbiomarkers. Now, the genes from this panel have been investigatedhere in this very compelling journal article. This validates theusefulness and potential clinical utility for liquid biopsy andproteomic characterization of stromal conditioning in cancer, as afurther way to stratify patients towards the best treatment options.”states Swapan Roy, Ph.D., President and Founder of Biotech SupportGroup.
Leadauthors Dr.WilmaMesker (Associate Professor) and Cor Ravensbergen (Senior MedicalStudent) of the Leiden University Medical Center concur, and statefurther that, “the tumor-stroma microenvironment is an importantprognostic parameter for patients with epithelial cancer types.However, tissue staining provides only qualitative information anddoes not offer any insight into specific cellular or proteinmechanisms that impact survival. We do know that patients with a highamount of stromal cells in the primary tumor have a bad prognosis andrespond worse to current chemo-, radio- and/or immunotherapyregimens. Now with the help of BSG’s StromaLiquid Biopsy™ panel, our working hypothesis is showing realevidence for how stromal conditioning impacts survival. Wewill soon start our LC-MS analysis of the StromaLiquid Biopsy™protein panel on patient sera. From this analysis,we can envision future therapeutic strategies that can potentiallymodulate the tumor microenvironment, as the tumor-stroma ratio wasfound to be associated with pathologic response to neoadjuvanttherapy. This supports the notion that the tumor microenvironmentaffects therapeutic response. So, we can begin to think about howmodulation of stromal conditioning might improve immuno-oncologytreatments, for example turning ‘cold’ tumors to ‘hot’.Consequently, weare very excited about the prospects for bridging the histologictumor-stromaratiowith biomarkers for systemic response, as reported by the blood-basedStromaLiquid Biopsy™ panel.”
ToLearn More About Tumour-Stroma Ratio, visit:
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AboutBiotech Support Group LLC
Convergingwith cultural and technological disruptions forthcoming inhealthcare, Biotech Support Group develops methods for cost effectiveand efficient sample prep essential for these expanding markets.Following a tiered business strategy, the company continues itsgrowth in the consumable research products area supporting therapidly expanding installation of LC-MS instrument and computationalinfrastructure. For this market, key products include: AlbuVoid™and AlbuSorb™ for albumin depletion, Cleanascite™ for lipidadsorption, and HemogloBind™ and HemoVoid™ for hemoglobinremoval. From these innovations, the company has acquiredknowledgebase and biomarker intellectual property assets that supportdiscoveries of protein markers from blood, with special emphasis onearly detection and personalized medical decisions for cancerpatients. For more information, gotohttps://www.biotechsupportgroup.com/Default.asp
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AboutLeiden University Medical Center (LUMC)
Asthe world changes and its population ages,thenumber of patients with chronic diseases and disorders is expanding,while medical costs increase. Therefore, the health of the globalpopulation is one of the biggest challenges of our time. LeidenUniversity Medical Center believes that this challenge asks for aclear vision and mission. At the LUMC, students are trained inlifelong innovation and learning. Researchers let themselves beinspired and test their findings directly in practice. Patients cancount on being helped according to the state-of-the-art in science.The LUMC believes in curing but also in prevention. By collaboratingwith companies and organizations inside and outside the region, theLUMC makes innovations and new applications actually possible. Thusthe LUMC serves as an innovator for improving healthcare science andconsequently people’shealth. For more information, go to https://www.lumc.nl
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Contact:RamSiddappa, PhD, MBA
SeniorBusiness Development & Licensing Manager
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