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Verastem Announces Oral Presentation of Data Supporting the Preferential Targeting of Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology’s 2016 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer
“The data presented today at SGO 2016 are important because they provide
further scientific evidence that chemotherapy can lead to an increase in
ovarian cancer stem cells (CSCs), making the tumor more aggressive and
resistant to further treatment,” said Dr.
Details for the SGO presentation are as follows:
Oral Presentation
Title: Standard chemotherapy for ovarian cancer increases expression of cancer stem cell biomarkers which is predictive of survival
Session: Scientific Plenary IX: Ovary
Date and time:
Location: Hall A
Summary: In ovarian cancer, certain molecular mediators are thought to possess CSC characteristics and the presence of these mediators, which is linked to earlier recurrence and shorter survival, is possibly brought about by chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of chemotherapy on ovarian cancer stem-like mediators and to determine if there was a relationship to survival. Researchers obtained matched pre- and post-chemotherapy tumor specimens from stage IIIC/IV ovarian cancer patients (n=22) who all underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy with interval debulking surgery. Samples were then analyzed for expression of 27 CSC markers. CSC markers were then validated in tumorsphere model and in vivo tumor initiating studies.
All 27 CSC markers demonstrated a mean increase in gene expression after exposure to chemotherapy. A 3-fold or greater increase in gene expression after exposure to chemotherapy was seen in 8 of 27 (30%) markers: ABCG2, ALDH1A1, CTGF, DPP4, MYC, CD133, SOX2, and POSTN. Three markers demonstrated a significant fold increase that correlated with platinum resistance: POSTN (4.1-fold), ALDH1A1 (5-fold), and SOX2 (14.5-fold). When implanted into immunocompromised mice, SOX2(hi) cells exhibited significantly higher levels of tumorsphere forming potential than SOX2(lo) cells and were more tumorigenic. High gene expression in these 3 markers demonstrated shorter progression free survival, compared to low expression. These results support the further investigation of directed agents to inhibit these CSC markers to potentially extend survival for patients with ovarian cancer.
A copy of the oral presentation will be available at http://bit.ly/R3M6wc
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This press release includes forward-looking statements about Verastem’s
strategy, future plans and prospects, including statements regarding the
development and activity of Verastem’s product candidates, VS-6063,
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Source:
Verastem, Inc.
Brian Sullivan, 781-292-4214
bsullivan@verastem.com