Artidis applies its technology to lung cancer

Basel-based ARTIDIS AG investigates the predictive value of nanomechanical tissue signature on outcomes in response to cancer therapy. The research strives to validate ARTIDIS technology as a novel tool for understanding resistance and immune response mechanisms in lung-based cancers with the perspective to optimize cancer diagnosis and classification, therapy choice, and support patient follow-up.

The research builds on previous ARTIDIS data which has shown that tissue-mechanical alterations at the sub-cellular level (in nanoscale resolution) in cancer are potentially suitable markers of cancer aggressiveness and indicators for treatment response. This finding was clinically validated in a prospective study in 545 breast cancer patients, where nanomechanical profiling was used to distinguish subtypes of cancerous lesions with the goal of stratifying high and low risk patients for developing metastases. Moreover, ARTIDIS results suggest that nanomechanical changes in response to treatment may predict responder rate and outcome.

For the research on lung cancer, ARTIDIS will collaborate with James Welsh, M.D., associate professor of Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, to analyze nanomechanical profiles of cancer tissue and sub-cellular components, i.e. tumor microenvironments (TME), in different preclinical lung-based cancer models and will examine the correlation of such nanomechanical signatures with outcomes. Furthermore, the project aims to investigate nanomechanical changes upon standard of care interventions to treat lung cancer including radiation therapy (RT) and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. This preclinical work is intended to be used as a lead into clinicals studies anticipated for the first half 2021.

“Our work will provide invaluable insight into the mechanisms of immune checkpoint resistance in lung-based cancers,” said Marija Plodinec, Ph.D., CEO at ARTIDIS. “The knowledge we gain in this project will deepen our understanding of the nanomechanical signature as a key biomarker to maximize the response of solid tumors to immuno and cell therapy. We aim to achieve this by measuring and then adjusting the physical characteristics of tumors with radiation prior to therapy in order to maximize their “permeability” to therapeutic agents. Our ultimate goal is for patients who are non-responders to become responders, and for responders to respond better.”

(Press release / SK)
Picture: Marija Plodinec, Marko Loparic, Philipp Oertle, Tobias Appenzeller (from left)