Continuous emulsion digital PCR (cdPCR) for low-cost, rapid, near point-of-care genotyping of non-small cell lung cancer
Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: N/A
Contract: 1R41CA228854-01
Agency Tracking Number: R41CA228854
Amount:
$224,998.00
Phase:
Phase I
Program:
STTR
Solicitation Topic Code:
102
Solicitation Number:
PA17-303
Timeline
Solicitation Year:
2017
Award Year:
2018
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date):
2018-05-01
Award End Date (Contract End Date):
2019-04-30
Small Business Information
4643 E MONTECITO AVE, Phoenix, AZ, 85018-4370
DUNS:
080324428
HUBZone Owned:
N
Woman Owned:
N
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged:
N
Principal Investigator
Name: CLOUD PAWELETZ
Phone: (617) 582-7602
Email: cloudp_paweletz@dfci.harvard.edu
Phone: (617) 582-7602
Email: cloudp_paweletz@dfci.harvard.edu
Business Contact
Name: CHRIS PERKINS
Phone: (303) 523-0630
Email: chris.perkins@dropworks.com
Phone: (303) 523-0630
Email: chris.perkins@dropworks.com
Research Institution
Name: DANA-FARBER CANCER INST
Address: 450 BROOKLINE AVENUE
BOSTON, MA, 02215-5450
Type: Domestic nonprofit research organization
Address: 450 BROOKLINE AVENUE
BOSTON, MA, 02215-5450
Type: Domestic nonprofit research organization
Abstract
PROJECT SUMMARY
Genotyping of cancer has become the standard of carewhere specific mutations in cancer driving genes have been shown
to indicate sensitivity or resistance to targeted treatmentsSampling of cell free DNAcfDNAin blood plasma could
provide a non invasive means of performing this genotypingbut current methods are too complexslowdaysand
expensivehundreds of dollarsto make use of this information in a manner that would have a major clinical impa ctTo
widely impact cancer carea minimally invasive monitoring assay must be inexpensive enough$that it can be
ordered repeatedlyand must be fast enoughandlthrsthat it can seamlessly integrate into the current pace of
clinical decision makingThis Phase I STTR proposal seeks to evaluate the feasibility of DropWorkscontinuous emulsion digital PCRcdPCRtechnology for rapidlow costnon invasive genotyping of cancer through measurement of cell free DNA in blood
plasmaThe high level of automation in this technology greatly reduces the complexity of the workflowallowing it to be
placed in typical hospital laboratories and obviating the requirement for specialty laboratory staffIts simplifiedcontinuous nature has the potential to greatly reduce turnaround timeminutesand cost$This tool could
provide clinicians with low costhigh frequency information on genotype status and trends for a wide range of
mutations known to be indicative of therapeutic responseimproving outcomes through clearer selection and
adaptation of treatmentThe project objective will be accomplished in partnership with Dana Farber Cancer Institutewhich has developed a set of
validated cfDNA genotyping assays for non small cell lung cancer using digital droplet PCRIn this projectassays for
exdeletionLRand TM of EGFR will be the focusas these have specific near term relevance to treatmentThe project will determine whether the existing cdPCR technology can be automatedreducing clinical expertise
requirements and costand adapted to DFCI s specific cancer assaysAimand whether the specificity and sensitivity
of the assays meet those for the validated digital PCR approach in constructed samplesAimand a small human pilot
trialAimA Phaseproposal would extend this work by transforming the instrument into a robust clinical toolconfirming sensitivity and specificity for NSCLC in a wider human trialdesigning a full clinical trialand expanding the
assay set to other mutations and cancers PROJECT NARRATIVE
This project aims to evaluate the feasibility of the continuous emulsion digital PCRcdPCRtechnology for rapidandlthrlow cost$non invasive genotyping of cancer through the sampling and analysis of cell free DNA in blood plasmaGenotypic information obtained from cell free DNA could provide indication of susceptibility or emerging resistance to
targeted therapeuticsbut current methods for analysis are too complexslowand costly to be fast and frequent enough to
integrate into clinical decision making and impact outcomesIf successfulthis technology could provide a platform for
making serialnon invasive genotyping a routine part of care for a wide range of cancerspositively impacting outcomes
for a vast number of patients * Information listed above is at the time of submission. *