Session Abstract
Session Synopsis: Comprehensive liquid biopsies are reducing trial timelines and costs. Identifying genomic alterations through a simple blood draw allows safer, faster and cheaper identification of patients for trials, as well as the rescue of those who fail tissue biopsy. The first liquid biopsy CDx are paving the way for broader clinical adoption. Longitudinal analysis of patient samples allows for monitoring of patient response and insights into tumor evolution and next-line therapy selection for patients, including oncology-immunotherapy.
Session Chair Profile
MBA, VP, BioPharma Business Development, Guardant Health, Inc.
Biography
Daniel is responsible for building Guardant’s partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies using the Digital Sequencing technology platform. Daniel brings more than a decade of experience in the life sciences industry across business development, strategy, and operations. Previously, Daniel served in roles at MyoKardia, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, McKinsey & Company, and Genentech. He holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and an MA Hons. in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge.
Talk
Optimizing the Use of ctDNA to Accelerate Clinical Discoveries
Circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) offers a non-invasive means to detect clinically actionable genomic alterations, and is an invaluable tool to identify the genomic basis of acquired resistance. This presentation will provide an overview of how ctDNA can be used to identify predictive biomarkers, monitor clonal evolution, and accelerate clinical discoveries. Examples from an ongoing clinical trial in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer will be presented.
Speaker Profile
M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medical Oncology Division, Duke Cancer Institute
Biography
Dr. John Strickler is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Medical Oncology at Duke University. His clinic focuses on the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies, with a particular emphasis on esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. His research focuses on the design and execution of first-in-human and investigator-initiated clinical trials with correlative studies. He has a particular interest in non-invasive testing to identify and treat genomic drivers of treatment resistance. He has recently served on the ASCO Guidelines Committee for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer, and he is a member of the GI Steering Committee for the Academic and Community Cancer Research United (ACCRU) clinical trial consortium.
Talk
Optimizing the Use of ctDNA to Accelerate Clinical Discoveries
Circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) offers a non-invasive means to detect clinically actionable genomic alterations, and is an invaluable tool to identify the genomic basis of acquired resistance. This presentation will provide an overview of how ctDNA can be used to identify predictive biomarkers, monitor clonal evolution, and accelerate clinical discoveries. Examples from an ongoing clinical trial in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer will be presented.
