cBioPortal Symposium: Accelerating Cancer Research with Data Integration

The 12th Molecular Pathology Update in Frankfurt brought together experts from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to discuss the latest advancements in predictive molecular pathology diagnostics 🗣️ The conference began with an in-depth discussion of the "Modellvorhaben Genomsequenzierung," which addressed critical technical and organizational aspects of genomic sequencing. This foundational discussion set the stage for exploring three significant diseases: breast cancer, thyroid cancer, and lymphoma. In these diseases, diagnostic-relevant genes were linked to approved targeted therapies. Additional sessions highlighted the challenges and advancements in liquid biopsy, alongside innovative discussions on new DNA and RNA sequencing techniques, e.g. for detecting fusion genes. 🌟One particularly intriguing talk compared the actual phosphorylation patterns of kinases with activating mutations to their predicted patterns, shedding light on the complexities of cellular signaling. Moreover, insights into tissue-specific DNA methylation signatures, which can help identify the origin of tumor metastases or tumors of unknown primary, were invaluable. This conference showcased the latest research and fostered collaboration and knowledge exchange among professionals dedicated to advancing molecular pathology. Together, we are paving the way for transformative breakthroughs in diagnostics! #Molekularpathologie #UpdateMolPath #Pathologie

I’m excited to share that our new paper, “From bulk to single-cell and spatial data: An AI framework to characterise breast cancer metabolic dysregulations across modalities,” has just been published! In this study, we developed a multimodal AI framework that integrates and analyses several data types, including clinical, transcriptomic, and fluxomic data (derived from genome-scale metabolic modelling), to predict mortality risk and uncover metabolic dysregulations in breast cancer patients. Beyond integrating multiple data modalities, our framework leverages mechanistic insights from metabolic modelling within machine learning approaches to comprehensively characterise molecular and metabolic alterations across breast cancer risk groups. A heartfelt thank you to my supervisors Annalisa Occhipinti and Claudio Angione, for their invaluable guidance, mentorship, and continuous support not only throughout this project but also during my PhD journey. I’m also thankful to Suraj Verma and Noushin Eftekhari for their invaluable support and contributions throughout this project. You can read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/eF-FRWWw #AI #SingleCell #SpatialTranscriptomics #BreastCancer #Multimodal #MachineLearning #metabolicmodelling #GSMM

🧠 International Brain Tumor Awareness Week (October 26 – November 2, 2025) This week serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by people living with brain tumors, and of the scientists, clinicians, and patients working together to make progress against one of the most complex cancers known to medicine: glioblastoma. At our group at the CFGBC we are committed to understanding glioblastoma at its core; from tumor heterogeneity and resistance mechanisms to novel therapeutic strategies. 🔬 Our ongoing projects focus on: - Targeting glioblastoma stem cells with nanobodies such as NB3F18 - Exploring novel potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets - Developing 3D in vitro models that better recapitulate the tumor microenvironment - Integrating multi-omics data to uncover new molecular vulnerabilities Each experiment, poster, and publication brings us a step closer to transforming knowledge into therapies that matter. Let’s continue raising awareness, fostering collaboration, and giving hope through science. #BrainTumorAwareness #Glioblastoma #CancerResearch #Nanobody #3DModels

How are predictive and prognostic biomarkers shaping the future of urological cancer care? This is the topic of Prof. Christopher Poremba, who will join us as a speaker at the ISOBM 2025 conference. Prof. Poremba is Director of the Institute of Pathology Munich-North, TGMP Molecular Pathology South Bavaria GbR and Histogenomics GbR in Munich, Germany. As a pioneer in molecular and tumour pathology, he has served as a reference pathologist for many national and international clinical studies. His diagnostic and research expertise covers gastrointestinal, liver, breast cancer, sarcoma and urological pathology, with a strong focus on state-of-the-art NGS multi-gene sequencing technologies in collaboration with Roche Diagnostics and Foundation Medicine (FMI) to improve outcomes for patients with advanced cancer worldwide. At ISOBM 2025, Prof. Poremba will: 🎙️ Speak on ‘Predictive and prognostic biomarkers in urological cancers’ in the Urological Cancers session 🧑🏫 Co-chair the ‘Trillium Oncology Symposium – Molecular Pathology’ session 🔬 Serve on the local scientific board We look forward to Prof. Poremba's insights and to welcoming him to the ISOBM stage next week. ➡️ Further details and registration: https://lnkd.in/dKfrXpkV #BiomarkersInOncology #ISOBM2025 #MolecularPathology #PrecisionMedicine #UrologicalCancer Trillium GmbH Medizinischer Fachverlag ISOBM - International Society of Oncology and Biomarkers Foundation Medicine Christopher Prof. Dr. med. Poremba, M.D., Ph.D.

The Future of Genomic Profiling: Is Liquid Beyond Blood? 🩸🔬 For years, General Genomic Profiling on tumor tissue has been the gold standard for identifying actionable targets in cancer. More recently, Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis in blood (a "liquid biopsy") has emerged as a revolutionary, minimally invasive tool for monitoring and target discovery. But is blood the only liquid answer? The conversation in precision medicine is rapidly expanding to explore how other biological fluids might provide unique, complementary insights: Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF): Essential for understanding central nervous system (CNS) malignancies and metastases where blood barriers limit ctDNA detection. Urine: A less invasive sample that may be valuable for detecting cancers of the urogenital tract (bladder, kidney, prostate). Saliva: Easy to collect and potentially useful for head and neck cancers, offering a non-invasive way to detect early changes. The core question we face is this: Do we limit our target identification and solutions to what we find in tissue and blood, or do we embrace a broader Multi-Compartment Liquid Biopsy approach—looking "beyond blood"—to gain a more complete picture of a patient's disease? This integrated approach promises greater sensitivity, earlier detection of recurrence, and more precise therapeutic guidance, especially for complex or metastatic diseases. Thanks to Dr Bhuvan Chugh #oncology #Medical Oncology # Surgical Oncology #Oncology Hospital # Radiation Oncologist #Oncology Research #gemomics #Liquid Biopsy # cell Biopsy #Cancer Patients #Cancet support groups #Medical Oncology # mohan Utterwar #gowhar #Max Oncology # Ajai Kumar #Mihua Ghosh #Narayanan

We are excited to present at #ESMO25 in collaboration with researchers from Pfizer, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Stanford Cancer Institute, and Weill Cornell Medicine. 📄 Poster 2012P: A post-hoc analysis of the CROWN study in ALK+ NSCLC using AI to predict progression-free survival based on early response. 🗓️ Date:  Saturday, 18 October 2025, 12:00-12:45 CEST  📍 Session: Metastatic NSCLC The CROWN trial established lorlatinib as first-line therapy with the longest PFS ever reported in advanced ALK+ NSCLC. Building on this, our study analyzed all measurable lesions in 249 patients using Vysioneer’s VTrial AI platform and found that AI lesion-level response and radiomics at the earliest scan predicted long-term PFS, uncovering prognostic signals beyond RECIST. Key findings: 🔹For patients with baseline brain metastases, AI-derived early brain tumor response predicted systemic PFS, stratifying them into low- vs. high-risk groups (33.3 vs. 7.8 months; HR = 0.34; p = 0.0006). 🔹For patients without brain metastases, a validated AI-derived lung radiomic feature also predicted PFS (not reached vs. 11.1 months; HR = 0.44; p = 0.0001). These results highlight the potential of AI-based lesion-level analysis as an early prognostic tool to enhance trial decision-making and clinical care in oncology. We’re proud to contribute to advancing the use of AI in global oncology trials and look forward to connecting with the oncology community at #ESMO! #ESMO2025 #Oncology #ClinicalTrials #AI #Vysioneer

Fresh Insights from JBPE: Unlocking miR-16-5p's Power Against Colorectal Cancer! 🌟 At the Journal of Biomedical Physics & Engineering (JBPE), we're passionate about unraveling the molecular mechanisms that drive cancer—and how we can turn them against the disease. Our newest open-access study dives into the tumor-suppressing prowess of hsa-miR-16-5p, spotlighting its potential to boost radiosensitivity in colorectal cancer (CRC), a leading global killer. Investigating miR-16-5p: The Tumor Suppressor That Influences Cell Cycle Genes in Colorectal Cancer Authored by Seyedeh Nasibeh Mousavikia, Maryam M. Matin, Mohammad Taghi Bahreyni-Toossi, Seyed Hamid Aghaee-Bakhtiari, and Hosein Azimian from esteemed institutions like Mashhad University of Medical Sciences and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. Why This Breakthrough? CRC thrives on dysregulated cell cycles; miR-16-5p acts as a guardian, but its interplay with ionizing radiation (IR) in therapy remains underexplored. This work probes how elevating miR-16-5p could suppress proliferation genes, enhancing IR's punch for better treatment outcomes. Key Discoveries: Radiation Impact: 4 Gy IR slashed miR-16-5p levels in HT-29 CRC cells, while curbing CDK4 (but not CCND1 or CCNE1). miR-16-5p Boost: Transfection ramped up miR-16-5p expression, potently downregulating CCND1, CCNE1, and CDK4 versus controls. Synergistic Effect: Pre-IR miR-16-5p transfection amplified suppression of these genes beyond IR alone—signaling enhanced radiosensitivity and a novel adjuvant strategy. These findings position miR-16-5p as a game-changing radiosensitizer, paving the way for targeted CRC therapies that merge microRNA modulation with radiation. Explore the full paper: DOI: 10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.2501-1874 How could miRNA tweaks supercharge your oncology research? Let's discuss in the comments—tag a colleague and join the conversation! #JBPE #ColorectalCancer #MicroRNA #CellCycle #RadiationTherapy #CancerResearch #Oncology #BiomedicalPhysics

🔬 From Petri Dishes to Personalized Medicine: The Rise of Breast Cancer Organoids 🧫 Can we model breast cancer in a dish—and predict real patient outcomes? The answer is rapidly becoming yes, thanks to patient-derived organoids (PDOs). 📢 A groundbreaking review published in Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology (Oct 2025) by Dilys Leung et al. explores how 3D organoid models are transforming breast cancer research and bringing precision medicine closer to clinical reality. 🧬 Why It Matters: ✅ Traditional 2D cell lines and animal models often fail to reflect the true biological complexity of breast tumors. ✅ Organoids, in contrast, retain the genetic, proteomic, and architectural fidelity of original tumor tissues. ✅ They’re enabling drug sensitivity testing, biomarker discovery, and personalized therapy screening at an unprecedented level. 🔧 What’s New? 💡 Recent advances like PDX-derived organoids, co-culture systems, assembloids, and organoid-on-chip platformsare overcoming key limitations—bringing microenvironmental realism and vascular simulation to the 3D culture space. 🧪 These innovations are accelerating translational research and reshaping how we approach functional testing in oncology. 📈 The Future of Precision Oncology 🔹As PDO biobanks grow and organoid systems mature, they are becoming central to: 🔹Real-time clinical decision-making 🔹Drug development pipelines 🔹Functional genomics in cancer 🔹But challenges like standardization, cost, and integration remain—and solving them will define the next decade of cancer research 📖 Explore the full review: 🧾 “Breast cancer organoids: Advancements and applications in precision medicine” 🔗 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2025.104914 📚 Crit Rev Oncol Hematol, Vol. 214 (2025) 👉 Have you worked with organoids or integrated 3D models into your research pipeline? Let’s discuss how these models are shaping the future of personalized cancer care. #Organoids #BreastCancer #PrecisionMedicine #CancerResearch #3DModels #DrugDiscovery #TranslationalResearch

Today, this came across my desk and I wanted to share it with you because it's incredibly fascinating and because it's unusual approach on treating cancer. Researchers from the The University of Texas at Austin and the Universidade do Porto have developed an innovative light based treatment that selectively destroys cancer cells while leaving healthy tissue untouched. Using a near infrared LED system to activate tin based nanoflakes (SnOx), the team achieved highly targeted results without the need for expensive or complex laser equipment. In laboratory studies, the approach eliminated up to 92 percent of skin cancer cells and about 50 percent of colorectal cancer cells, while sparing normal human skin cells. This breakthrough demonstrates that light and nanomaterials can be combined to deliver precise, minimally invasive cancer therapy. Unlike traditional photothermal treatments that rely on costly laser systems, this LED-based method is affordable, portable, and adaptable. Researchers believe it could eventually be used not only in hospitals but also in outpatient settings or even at home as part of post surgical recovery. The implications are profound. By using simple, low cost technology, scientists are bringing advanced cancer therapy closer to global accessibility. The method’s selectivity also reduces the risk of damaging surrounding healthy tissue, a persistent challenge in many cancer treatments. While clinical trials and further refinement are still ahead, the promise of this technology lies in its simplicity and precision. It signals a shift toward safer, more affordable, and more inclusive cancer care. One where healing light, rather than aggressive intervention, becomes a key weapon against the disease. Let me know what you guys think in the comment section down below! Source: ScienceDaily #ClinicalTrials #ClinicalInnovation #DrugDevelopment #MedicalAdvancements #ClinicalInsights #HealthcareInnovation #PatientCareResearch #ClinicalExcellence #FutureOfMedicine #ClinicalResearch #MedicalResearch #PharmaIndustry #DrugDevelopment #ClinicalDevelopment #ResearchAndDevelopment #LifeSciences #OncologyResearch #Breastcancer

A joint study from London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) Research Institute (LHSCRI), University Health Network (UHN), and Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph’s Health Care London has found a new imaging solution, called prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, can more effectively detect the recurrence of prostate cancer compared to standard imaging methods. The scan can detect prostate cancer in “closer to three quarters of men” where the “pickup rate with conventional scans” was between 10 per cent and 20 per cent, said Glenn Bauman, a scientist at LHSCRI and radiation oncologist. The study showed that PET scans using this technique led to more personalized treatment decisions and those changes are linked to longer survival. Read the full news story: https://ow.ly/yj7l50XbOOb