George Vasmatzis, Ph.D.

The purpose of this study is to use genomic and proteomic analyses to identify possible diagnostic markers and potential drugs for diagnosing and treating aggressive tumor types or neoplastic processes. Genomic analyses mean looking at the genome, or all the DNA in a cell (DNA is a material in your body that is a genetic map or code that provides instructions that make up your genes). Proteomic analyses mean looking at the proteome, or all the proteins expressed, or made, by DNA at a specific moment in time

The primary objective of this collaborative study is to collect biospecimens for the evaluation of internally developed assays designed to predict for and monitor response to currently available PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.

The purpose of this study is to validate an internally developed assay for the detection of BRAF V600E mutations in cfDNA from the peripheral blood of patients with melanoma.

KRAS gene mutations are present in approximately 40% of colorectal cancers and are known to predict for a lack of benefit from some anti-cancer medications (known as anti-EGFR antibody therapy) that are used in routine clinical practice. Currently, the only way to know if your tumor has one of these mutations is to take a tissue sample or biopsy of one of your tumors.

Unfortunately biopsies carry with them certain risks, including bleeding, infection and/or pain. This study is being done to see if a blood test can detect the KRAS mutations in the DNA circulating in the blood and be an effective method for determining if a patient’s tumor carries the mutation(s) without having to perform a biopsy.

The objective of this study is to validate internally developed assays for the detection of clinically relevant gene mutations in cfDNA from the peripheral blood of patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma.