Revolutionizing cancer research: Owkin's Biomarkers Director insights from ASCO 2023
The annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) concluded earlier this week, marking a significant success for the oncology community and especially for the team at Owkin.
With over 2,900 abstracts and more than 2,600 poster presentations and more than 44,000 attendees, the ASCO Annual Meeting solidified its position as the world's most influential oncology conference for clinicians, researchers, patient advocates, and healthcare industry representatives. It served as a platform to showcase groundbreaking scientific discoveries, novel therapies, and innovative approaches to cancer research.
During the Opening Session, ASCO President Dr. Winer expressed his hopes for attendees to leave the Annual Meeting with a renewed sense of purpose and inspired to involve patients as essential partners in scientific discovery. At Owkin, we are focused on prioritizing the patient and transforming the way we perceive both the patient and their disease.
This year were delighted to have a strong representation from the Owkin team, who manned our booth and eagerly engaged in face-to-face meetings, sharing in the excitement and energy of the event. We are particularly proud to unveil our latest project, MOSAIC (Multi Omic Spatial Atlas In Cancer), which promises to reshape cancer research by leveraging cutting-edge spatial omics technologies. These technologies provide unparalleled insights into the intricate structure of tumors and hold tremendous potential for advancing our understanding of cancer.
Continuing our tradition of delivering major scientific breakthroughs, Owkin showcased our AI-enabled capabilities through one oral presentation and two posters at the conference. These contributions underscore our commitment to pushing the boundaries of cancer research and leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to drive transformative discoveries.
Here are a couple of my highlights and insights from the conference:
AI takes center stage
The presence of AI was evident at every stage of the patient's fight against cancer throughout ASCO this year. Dr. Wong from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology presented an oral abstract session on the application of machine learning in the diagnosis of gastric cancer. The CANI-GAS model, developed using data from complete blood count and liver, renal, and clotting function tests, achieved a remarkable sensitivity of 96% and a specificity exceeding 99% in detecting gastric cancer.
AI optimizing drug combinations and dosing
Dr. Dean Ho from The National University of Singapore showcased his digital avatar and CURATE.AI during an education session on AI for drug development. It was evident that AI is increasingly playing a crucial role in drug discovery, development, and dosing. The CURATE.AI model effectively recommended the appropriate drug dose, demonstrating its potential to enhance efficacy. In the case of Advanced Prostate Cancer, CURATE.AI suggested a 50% dose reduction to increase effectiveness. Such tools enable dynamic dosing adjustments tailored to individual patients.
My insights from ASCO
ASCO Annual Meeting is always a marathon, featuring plenary sessions, educational sessions, oral abstract presentations, expert meetings, and poster sessions. As expected, numerous announcements yielded both promising and less favorable outcomes.
Among the highlights:
- AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo's Enhertu exhibited impressive efficacy in various cancers expressing the HER2 biomarker.
- J&J's Balversa, in a new Phase III study for bladder cancer named THOR, demonstrated superior cancer control compared to chemotherapy.
- The INDIGO study's results showcased Vorasidenib's potential to improve progression-free survival in grade 2 glioma patients.
- The Phase II study for TIGIT by Gilead and Arcus reported lower progression-free survival rates compared to their previous update.
Although there wasn't a standing ovation during the plenary session at this year's ASCO, the conference provided an abundance of clinical trial data and promising results, signifying a positive outlook for the future of cancer treatment. The ongoing dedication to finding the right treatments for every patient remains a focal point.
We look forward to reconnecting at ASCO 2024 in Chicago next year, as we continue our collective mission to advance oncology research and improve patient outcomes.
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