Liquid Biopsies Enhance PSMA-Directed Therapies in GU Cancers

Jacob E. Berchuck, MD, assistant professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, discusses the potential of liquid biopsies to enhance clinical decision-making regarding prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-directed therapies, particularly in light of the FDA-approved Pluvicto (¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA-617) and the development of numerous other PSMA-targeting agents.

With over 30 PSMA-targeting agents in development and the FDA-approved ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA-617, liquid biopsies offer a promising tool for identifying patients who will benefit from PSMA-directed therapy. Liquid biopsies allow for real-time assessment of the molecular characteristics of a patient’s cancer, which is essential for determining the most effective treatment options.

The range of patient responses to ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA-617 varies significantly, with some responding for up to 2 years while others see no benefit. As a result, Berchuck explains that utilizing clinical biomarkers from liquid biopsies can help tailor treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes in clinical practice.

Overall, the integration of liquid biopsy technology into clinical practice holds great promise for advancing the field of PSMA-directed therapy, allowing for more informed, patient-centered approaches to cancer treatment.

Transcription:

0:09 | There is an incredible opportunity for liquid biopsies to really inform which patients should and should not receive PSMA-directed therapy in the clinic. I think it is already important, given that we have an FDA-approved drug, [¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA-617] targeting PSMA. But as you mentioned, with the clinical development of many more PSMA-directed therapies, this is only going to become an increasingly important issue in the clinic.

0:32 | Right now, we have the question: Is this patient going to benefit from [¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA-617]? There is an incredible range in whether patients do or don’t respond. Some patients respond for a year, 18 months, or even 2 years, while other patients do not respond at all. I think using clinical biomarkers, like those we’re developing with this liquid biopsy platform, could really facilitate identifying which patients in the clinic are likely or unlikely to benefit from PSMA-directed therapy.