The Nordic Prostate Cancer Precision Medicine Forum

Nordic PCPM Forum is a research network collaborating to advance precision medicine tools in prostate cancer. The aim of the research is to develop refined and validated predictive biomarkers, building on the participating groups’ previous work and shared expertise. The project is funded through a grant of €1.6 million from EP PerMed under the call “Pharmacogenomic strategies for personalized medicine approaches.”

Spatially curated multi-omic biomarkers to delineate a roadmap for personalized medicine in prostate cancer

Prognostic and predictive transcription panels developed by members of the consortium will be transformed using spatial multi-omics methodologies at the spatial single-cell level. This approach will refine the tools for optimal performance in relation to the tissue’s structural heterogeneity, followed by validation in joint cohorts and purpose-designed study frameworks.

Work packages

WP1: Spatial multi-omics and translational bioinformatics

To use existing omics signatures as a baseline to analyze spatially resolved transcriptomic, genomic, and metabolomic data in primary tumors and metastases. Refinement of previously defined profiles based on data with spatial resolution.

WP1.1: Complement the spatial transcriptomic data to cover relevant phenotypes identified by developed prognostic panels

WP1.2: Refine the algorithms by translational bioinformatics

WP3: Proof-of-principle studies of therapy-predictive spatial signatures in prostate cancer 

Implementation of biomarkers requires high level evidence of their clinical usefulness. Clinical trials to establish the predictive potential of biomarkers are expensive and time-consuming. Here we will use tissue-based outcome measurements after short-term treatments, as a short-cut to evaluate the potential of biomarker signatures from WP2 to predict therapy response and identify mechanisms for early resistance.

WP3.1. Therapy prediction of response to neo-adjuvant treatment in primary tumors of high-risk patients.

WP3.2. Therapy prediction of response to ADT in metastasized patients

WP4: Pilot for implementation of precision medicine and follow-up in clinical routine

To use the Swedish SPRINTR infrastructure as a testbed for defined biomarker panels in a real-world clinical work up scenario and to design novel biomarker-driven randomized clinical trials using the SPRINTR-trial platform. 

WP 5. Patient involvement and alignment with European networks

Incorporate the patient perspective when identifying the most pressing research questions that can be addressed using data and materials derived from the SPRINTR study, as well as when developing a roadmap for both clinical implementation of the most promising molecular tests for treatment guidance and roadmap for information and communication to patients when precision medicine is used for helping in treatment selection.