February 4th marks World Cancer Day, an international initiative to raise awareness about cancer. World Cancer Day aims to mobilize communities to address the challenges posed by this devastating disease. This year’s theme, “United by Unique,” emphasizes putting people at the center of care.
This year, we highlight two researchers from the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute (GCI) and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute). Their work is advancing precision cancer medicine—a transformative approach to cancer treatment that tailors therapies to each patient’s unique needs.
Biliary Tract Molecular Profiling Trial
Led by Dr. George Zogopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., an investigator at McGill University’s Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute (GCI) and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute), this trial focuses on biliary tract cancers, a group of aggressive malignancies originating in the gallbladder or bile duct that are notoriously difficult to treat. Patients participating in this trial undergo a biopsy to determine the genetic and molecular profile of their tumor. These detailed results are shared with both the patient and their oncologist to guide precision treatment and inform therapy decisions.
This trial exemplifies how molecular profiling can empower more effective and personalized treatment strategies for challenging cancers.
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04318834
https://www.cancerpancreas.ca/en/for-patients/
Tailoring the Duration of Therapy in Melanoma
Traditionally, standard immunotherapy with PD-1 inhibitors lasts two years for patients who respond to treatment. However, emerging evidence suggests that shorter treatment durations might be equally effective.
The STOP-GAP trial, co-chaired by Dr. Tara Baetz (Kingston Health Sciences Centre) and Dr. Xinni Song (Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre), seeks to optimize the duration of immunotherapy to minimize unnecessary side effects while preserving its efficacy. The trial employs a tailored approach: patients receive immunotherapy until their tumors achieve maximum response, at which point treatment is paused. Patients are then closely monitored, with therapy resuming only if necessary.
Complementing the trial is a biobanking and data collection sub-study led by Ian Watson, Ph.D an investigator at McGill University’s Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute (GCI) and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute). This sub-study is funded by the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network (MOHCCN) and conducted in collaboration with Dr. Janet Dancey, Director of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG), along with Drs. Baetz and Song, and researchers from institutions across Québec, Ontario, and British Columbia.
The sub-study collects detailed genomic and clinical data, including whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing (WGTS). This rich dataset aims to uncover factors that could personalize immunotherapy, such as predicting which patients might benefit from shorter treatment durations or have better responses to PD-1 inhibitors.
Study Details | Duration of Anti-PD-1 Therapy in Metastatic Melanoma | ClinicalTrials.gov
https://www.ctg.queensu.ca/public/melanoma/melanoma-disease-site
United by Precision Cancer Medicine
On World Cancer Day, dedicated researchers from the GCI, The Institute, and across McGill stand with the global community to advance cancer care—one patient at a time. Embracing the complexities of each unique case drives our innovation and supports our mission for #discoverythatmatters and to uncover the #knowledgetocure.
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