Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026
Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research
Published on: November 26, 2015
When Tissue Is No Longer the Issue: Tissue-Agnostic Cancer Therapy Comes of Age
Shiuh-Wen Luoh1, Keith T Flaherty2
1VA Portland Health Care System and Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon (S.L.).
Abstract:
Matching unique features of cancer types with effective therapies is a cornerstone of precision medicine. Clinical success has been seen in inhibiting specific molecular alterations that drive the growth of cancer cells and targeting molecules whose elevated expression is confined to cancer cells. In addition, cancer cells can have vulnerabilities induced by somatic mutations they carry; attacks on these vulnerabilities range from specific molecular alterations pointing to direct drug strategies to harnessing immune recognition of genetically altered epitopes produced by the cancer cells. Recent advances have found that the success of biomarker-driven cancer therapy may be relevant across sites of origin. For example, cancer types that show DNA mismatch repair deficiency, such as colon, biliary, and endometrial cancer, are more sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibition. Several large, ongoing clinical trials with a "basket" design are combining tumor tissue genomics with potential off-the-shelf therapies in drug development, and more tissue-agnostic biomarker therapies are reaching the bedside.
Insights
Precision medicine matches cancer features with therapies. Biomarker-driven treatments, like immune checkpoint inhibitors for DNA mismatch repair deficient cancers, show promise across tumor types.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Immunology
Background:
- Precision medicine aims to match specific cancer characteristics with targeted therapies.
- Current strategies include inhibiting cancer-driving molecular alterations and targeting overexpressed molecules.
- Somatic mutations can create vulnerabilities exploitable by drugs or immunotherapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of biomarker-driven cancer therapies across different cancer types.
- To highlight the success of targeting molecular alterations and immune responses in cancer treatment.
- To discuss the development of tissue-agnostic biomarker therapies.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of clinical success in precision oncology.
- Review of biomarker-driven therapy strategies, including immune checkpoint inhibition.
- Examination of basket trial designs integrating tumor genomics with therapies.
Main Results:
- Biomarker-driven therapy success is observed across various cancer origins.
- DNA mismatch repair deficiency (e.g., in colon, biliary, endometrial cancers) predicts sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
- Ongoing basket trials are advancing the development of genomic-based, off-the-shelf therapies.
Conclusions:
- Targeting unique cancer features, including genetic alterations and immune epitopes, is crucial for effective treatment.
- Tissue-agnostic biomarker therapies represent a significant advancement in oncology drug development.
- The integration of tumor genomics and targeted therapies is transforming cancer care.
Related Concept Videos
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
01:21Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell...
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
01:18Tissues
01:25Tissues
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...