‘’Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge a significant difference between cancer and AIDS which lies in the higher biological complexity and heterogeneity of cancer compared to AIDS. In AIDS, one tri-therapy combination is effective for a majority of patients, whereas in cancer it is expected that many combinations will be needed to treat all patients effectively. WIN Consortium has developed new technologies for tailoring combinations for each individual patient.’’ said Dr. John Mendelsohn, Chairman of WIN. "WIN’s trial, entitled SPRING, is therefore a first proof of concept of this novel approach in the treatment of lung cancer, and will test as a first combination three drugs from WIN’s big pharma members, Merck’s Avelumab combined with Pfizer’s Palbociclib and Axitinib.’’ added Dr. Mendelsohn.
SPRING’s investigator initiated research will be led by Dr. Razelle Kurzrock (University of California San Diego, Moores Cancer Center) and co-led by Dr. Enriqueta Felip (Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology) and is planned to be launched in 5 countries and 8 WIN member sites: University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center and Avera Cancer Institute (Dr. Benjamin Solomon), USA; Institut Curie (Dr. Nicolas Girard), Centre Léon Bérard (Dr. Pierre Saintigny) and Hôpital Paris Saint-Joseph (Dr. Eric Raymond), France; Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Spain; Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (Dr. Guy Berchem); and Chaim Sheba Medical Center (Dr. Jair Bar), Israel.
The SPRING trial will start with a Phase I portion to explore the safety of the combination and determine the optimal doses for the Phase II that will explore the efficacy of this tri-therapy regimen in first line treatment of metastatic NSCLC. The trial will also aim to validate a novel algorithm SIMS (Simplified Interventional Mapping System) developed by WIN and designed to match each patient’s tumor biology to a specific drug combination. For this purpose, both tumor and normal lung tissue biopsies will be obtained and explored in the SPRING trial. DNA and RNA analysis will be performed by Dr. Brandon Young at Avera WIN Precision Oncology Laboratory in San Marcos, California on biopsies using, respectively, Illumina NGS (next generation sequencing) and HTG Molecular’s expression (mRNA and microRNA) EdgeSeq technology used in conjuction with Illumina (NGS). Data integration for the SIMS algorithm will be performed by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Dr. Eitan Rubin), Israel.
‘’It is an unprecedented cooperation between our WIN members from academia, industry and research organizations.“ said Dr. Vladimir Lazar, WIN Chief Scientific and Operating Officer. ‘’Eight clinical sites will activate the study, drugs will be provided by Pfizer Inc., DNA and RNA analysis technologies by Illumina and HTG Molecular and pharmacovigilance by Covance. In particular, we are grateful to Foundation ARC on cancer research in France for financial support to initiate the SPRING trial. We are welcoming the support of any other organization or private donors, wishing to join this unique global effort dedicated to lung cancer patients.’’ added Dr. Lazar.
‘’It is very exciting to see this endeavor becoming more concrete and this unprecedented cooperation materializing. We are looking forward to the activation of our clinical sites. We will need more combinations to be launched rapidly and other pharma companies to join us in this effort.’’, said Dr. Razelle Kurzrock, trial global coordinator, and Head of WIN Clinical Trials Committee. ‘’WIN has the potential and expertise to test other combinations and has the technologies needed to match patients’ tumor biology profile with the appropriate combination”.
About WIN Consortium
WIN Consortium is a French based non-profit network of 41 world-class academic medical centers, industries (pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies), health payer, research organizations and foundation and patient advocates spanning 17 countries and 4 continents, aligned to deliver now the progress in cancer treatment that is awaited by so many patients and families around the world.
For further information, please visit www.winconsortium.org.
