Johannes Fahrmann

Ph.D.

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Assistant Professor

PLCO (Learn more about this study)

2022-0048

Jul 1, 2023

Blood-based biomarkers for personalized risk assessment of breast and ovarian cancers

There is currently substantial interest in liquid biopsy approaches for breast and ovarian cancer screening. Such tests would not replace screening programs but would instead be a basic tool that can be integrated with other risk models based on a subject’s characteristics to personalize the risk of cancer and inform on the need for pertinent cancer detection tests. For instance, in the context of breast cancer, a test that stratifies women at highest risk for developing breast cancer who would benefit from biannual screening that includes breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from those at lowest risk who can be spared over-screening has potential to better tailor personalized breast cancer screening. Tests such as CancerSEEK and those based on cell-free DNA methylation patterns have demonstrated proof-of-principal that a blood-test may offer value for multi-cancer screening, including breast and ovarian. However, performance of these tests for detecting early-stage disease is currently sub-optimal and there remains an opportunity and need to assess the contributions of additional biomarker types to improve early detection of breast and ovarian cancers.

The primary translational objective of this proposal is to develop a multi-analyte blood-based biomarker panel based on circulating proteins and autoantibodies against tumor antigens for risk prediction of breast and ovarian cancer to inform on the need for screening based on the individual’s risk profile. The applicant group led by the Principal Investigator (PI) has conducted a series of Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) defined phase 1-3 biomarker studies that have identified a panel of circulating proteins and autoantibodies against tumor-associated proteins, including TP53 and citrullinated neoantigens, that offer potential value for early detection of breast and ovarian cancers.

Specific Aim 1: To test the predictive performance of candidate protein and autoantibody biomarkers that we have identified and to also develop combination rules for risk assessment of breast and ovarian cancers in the preclinical setting.

Specific Aim 2: Test biomarker trajectories for improved risk prediction of breast and ovarian cancer.