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PACA-CA

Pancreatic Cancer Harmonized "Omics" analysis for Personalized Treatment

Lead Institution

Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Canada

BROWSE THE DATA 

Country

Canada

Program Description

Across two major clinical trials (COMPASS and PanGen), we collect biopsies from patients with non-resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC; locally advanced or metastatic disease) and profile the tumours for genomic or transcriptomic aberrations that might guide second-line treatment. Originating in Toronto and Vancouver, these trials have expanded to several sites across Canada, including eight cities (Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Kingston, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver) in five provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec). Together, this coast to coast Canadian initiative comprises EPPIC (Enhanced Pancreatic Cancer Profiling for Individualized Care) and PancONE (Pancreatic Canadian Oncology Network). To date, we have completed whole genome and RNA sequencing of more than 250 cases, with tumour enrichment by laser capture microdissection performed on many cases. Sequencing and bioinformatics analysis is performed at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) in Toronto and the BC Cancer Genome Sciences Centre (GSC) in Vancouver. Our combined goal is to explore new treatment options and improve patient outcome.

Program Goals and Expected Outcomes

The Pancreatic Cancer Project in Canada is a world-leading, high content, profiling program of advanced pancreatic cancer. It is tightly integrated into real-time patient management, with seminal findings that help in the understanding of patient sensitivity and resistance to standard-of-care first line therapy. We also aim to identify molecular aberrations to help guide second-line treatment selection (i.e. personalized medicine).

What gaps in existing knowledge will be addressed by the study?

We aim to identify subsets of patients that are likely to respond to specific treatments, either in a first-line or second-line setting. These patients may be selected based on transcriptomic features, gene expression profiles or other molecular aberrations. Such biomarkers are not currently used to direct drug selection for patients in an unbiased manner.


Program Team

Steven Gallinger, MD, MSc, FRCS

Lead Investigator

Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Canada
University Health Network, Toronto, Canada


Name

Role

Institution, location

Jennifer Knox

Medical Oncologist

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto (Canada)

Grainne O’Kane

Medical Oncologist

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto (Canada)

Daniel Renouf

Medical Oncologist

BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver (Canada)

David Schaeffer

Pathologist

Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver (Canada)

George Zogopoulos

Surgical Oncologist

Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal (Canada)

Oliver Bathe

Surgical Oncologist

Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary (Canada)

Sandra Fischer

Pathologist

University Health Network, Toronto (Canada)

Steven Jones

Sequencing, Informatics

Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver (Canada)

Faiyaz Notta

Sequencing, Informatics

Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto (Canada)

Julie Wilson

Program Manager

Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto (Canada)

Joanna Karasinska

Program Manager

Pancreas Centre BC, Vancouver (Canada)

Anna Dodd

Clinical Research Manager

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada



Funding Organisations

Ontario Institute for Cancer Research

Toronto, Canada

oicr.on.ca 

Wallace McCain Centre for Pancreatic Cancer, through funding provided by Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation

Toronto, Canada

thepmcf.ca 

Pancreas Cancer Canada Foundation

Toronto, Canada

pancreaticcancercanada.ca 

Terry Fox Research Institute

Vancouver, Canada

www.tfri.ca 

BC Cancer Foundation

Vancouver, Canada

bccancerfoundation.com 

VGH/UBC Hospital Foundation

Vancouver, Canada

vghfoundation.ca 


Further Information

PancOneEPPICCOMPASS TrialPanGen Trial

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