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The primary objective of this study is to develop and train the Elephas live tumor diagnostic platform and determine the ex-vivo accuracy of the Elephas Score using in-vivo RECIST 1.1 as the reference method
Cancer is a leading cause of death and despite many new drugs, a major diagnostic challenge remains knowing which drug will work best for a patient. A new class of drugs called checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment. However, current diagnostic methods (e.g. PDL1, MSI and TMB) do not accurately predict which patients will respond.
Elephas is developing a diagnostic platform using small 3D Live Tumor Fragments (LTFs) from participants for accurate prediction of drug response with a focus on CPIs such as Pembrolizumab (Keytruda). These LTFs contain both tumor cells and infiltrating immune cells, which are critical in determining response to CPIs and other immunotherapies.
In this observational clinical basket trial, participants will be recruited and their actual clinical response (using RECIST 1.1) to CPIs across five solid tumors (lung, head/neck, bladder, kidney, and skin) will be compared to the platform's predictive Artificial Intelligence (AI) score that is based on RNA, clinical data, and 3D microscopy images. The sensitivity and specificity of the platform's score will be determined and compared to current diagnostic methods for CPIs like PDL1, MSI, and TMB.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients with suspected or diagnosed cancer types as listed in the description | Subjects suspected or diagnosed with recurrent, locally advanced or metastatic cancer: bladder (urothelial carcinoma), kidney (ccRCC). Subjects suspected or diagnosed with recurrent or metastatic cancer: Colon and Rectum (MSI-H/dMMR Colorectal Cancer), Head and Neck (Squamous Cell Carcinoma), liver (Hepatocellular Carcinoma), Lung (NSCLC), Skin (Cutaneous Melanoma), Uterus (endometrial cancer). Subjects suspected or diagnosed with one of the following cancer types eligible for pure ICI neoadjuvant therapy: Skin (Cutaneous Melanoma, Stage III) Subjects suspected or diagnosed with: Any solid tumor type that is eligible for pure ICI therapy in the neoadjuvant or advanced/metastatic setting; Any metastatic solid tumor with high TMB, MSI-High or dMMR and are being considered for treatment with ICI therapy; Any recurrent or metastatic patient with a solid tumor that the clinician plans to treat with ICI therapy. |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Needle Biopsy, Forceps Biopsy, Punch Biopsy | Procedure | Subjects must be clinically able, at investigator discretion, to undergo additional core needle biopsy, forceps biopsy, or punch biopsy passes during their biopsy. These additional biopsies may either be collected from the primary tumor or a metastatic site amenable to additional passes (e.g., liver or lymph nodes) per the clinician. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Determine Ex-Vivo Prognostic Accuracy of Elephas Platform | The ex-vivo prognostic accuracy of the Elephas live tumor diagnostic platform will be determined using in-vivo RECIST 1.1 as the reference method. | 3 years |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Establish AUC of ELEPHAS Score and Compare with FDA Approved Biomarkers | The AUC of ELEPHAS Score will be established with a clinically meaningful confidence interval and compared to the AUCs of established FDA approved biomarkers for predicting clinical response to ICIs. | 3 years |
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Inclusion Criteria --
Written informed consent and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health information prior to registration. NOTE: HIPAA authorization may be included in the informed consent or obtained separately.
Age ≥ 18 years at the time of consent.
Subjects must meet one of the following criteria:
Subjects suspected or diagnosed with recurrent, locally advanced or metastatic cancer:
Subjects suspected or diagnosed with recurrent or metastatic cancer:
Subjects suspected or diagnosed with one of the following cancer types eligible for pure ICI neoadjuvant therapy:
o Skin: Cutaneous Melanoma, Stage III
Subjects suspected or diagnosed with:
Subjects must be clinically able, at investigator discretion, to undergo a biopsy procedure
Subjects who are newly diagnosed or have suspected cancer must be treatment-naïve at the time of biopsy. All other subjects should have the biopsy performed before starting their next line of treatment.
Exclusion Criteria --
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Adults aged 18 years or older, able to provide informed consent, and have a suspected or confirmed cancer diagnosis that meets requirements outlined in the eligibility criteria above.
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Fred Hausheer, MD, FACP | Elephas | Study Director |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARTI Cancer Center | Little Rock | Arkansas | 72205 | United States | ||
| Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33937012 | Background | Chen S, Zhang Z, Zheng X, Tao H, Zhang S, Ma J, Liu Z, Wang J, Qian Y, Cui P, Huang D, Huang Z, Wu Z, Hu Y. Response Efficacy of PD-1 and PD-L1 Inhibitors in Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Oncol. 2021 Apr 16;11:562315. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.562315. eCollection 2021. | |
| 30032384 | Background |
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Fresh tissue sample using core needle biopsy, forceps biopsy, or punch biopsy.
|
| Salinas |
| California |
| 93901 |
| United States |
| AdventHealth Orlando | Orlando | Florida | 32803 | United States |
| Memorial Health System | Pembroke Pines | Florida | 33026 | United States |
| Cleveland Clinic Florida | Stuart | Florida | 34994 | United States |
| University of South Florida (Tampa General Hospital) | Tampa | Florida | 33606 | United States |
| University of Louisville James Graham Brown Cancer Center | Louisville | Kentucky | 40202 | United States |
| Meritus Center for Clinical Research | Hagerstown | Maryland | 21742 | United States |
| John Theurer Cancer Center | Hackensack | New Jersey | 07601 | United States |
| Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center | Buffalo | New York | 14203 | United States |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | North Carolina | 27599 | United States |
| University of Wisconsin | Madison | Wisconsin | 53705 | United States |
| Cherukuri AR, Lubner MG, Zea R, Hinshaw JL, Lubner SJ, Matkowskyj KA, Foltz ML, Pickhardt PJ. Tissue sampling in the era of precision medicine: comparison of percutaneous biopsies performed for clinical trials or tumor genomics versus routine clinical care. Abdom Radiol (NY). 2019 Jun;44(6):2074-2080. doi: 10.1007/s00261-018-1702-1. |
| 41484629 | Derived | Ramasubramanian TS, Adstamongkonkul P, Scribano CM, Johnson C, Caenepeel S, Hrycyniak LCF, Vedder LC, Dana N, Baltes C, Browning V, Chen YI, Dietz T, Flietner E, Kaplewski N, Kellner A, Korrer M, Liu C, Marhefke N, McDonnell P, Nasreen A, Pope V, Prasad A, Richardson J, Schneider S, Schultz MM, Sood C, Sunil A, Euw EV, Wait E, Wargowski EE, Advani P, Broome B, Bruckbauer A, Godwin A, Kokabi N, Lou Y, Martin RCG 2nd, Robaina M, Toia G, Routh J, Friedl A, Eliceiri K, Szulczewski M, Johnson S, Oliner J, Galon J, Capitini C, Mukhopadhyay D, Taube J, Braun D, Gierman HJ. A live tumor fragment platform to assess immunotherapy response in core needle biopsies while addressing challenges of tumor heterogeneity. J Transl Med. 2026 Jan 3;24(1):18. doi: 10.1186/s12967-025-07378-2. |
| 40791544 | Derived | Ramasubramanian TS, Adstamongkonkul P, Scribano CM, Johnson C, Caenepeel S, Hrycyniak LCF, Vedder L, Dana N, Baltes C, Browning T, Chen YI, Dietz T, Flietner E, Kaplewski N, Kellner A, Korrer M, Liu C, Marhefke N, McDonnell P, Nasreen A, Pope V, Prasad A, Richardson J, Schneider S, Schultz M, Sood C, Sunil A, von Euw E, Wait E, Wargowski E, Advani P, Broome B, Bruckbauer A, Godwin A, Kokabi N, Martin R, Robaina M, Toia G, Routh J, Friedl A, Eliceiri K, Szulczewski M, Johnson S, Oliner J, Galon J, Capitini C, Mukhopadhyay D, Taube J, Braun D, Gierman HJ. A live tumor fragment platform to assess immunotherapy response in core needle biopsies while addressing challenges of tumor heterogeneity. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Jul 18:2025.07.18.663728. doi: 10.1101/2025.07.18.663728. |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D009369 | Neoplasms |
| D001749 | Urinary Bladder Neoplasms |
| D007680 | Kidney Neoplasms |
| D002292 | Carcinoma, Renal Cell |
| D015179 | Colorectal Neoplasms |
| D006258 | Head and Neck Neoplasms |
| D000077195 | Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck |
| D008113 | Liver Neoplasms |
| D006528 | Carcinoma, Hepatocellular |
| D008175 | Lung Neoplasms |
| D002289 | Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung |
| D012878 | Skin Neoplasms |
| D008545 | Melanoma |
| D016889 | Endometrial Neoplasms |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D014571 | Urologic Neoplasms |
| D014565 | Urogenital Neoplasms |
| D009371 | Neoplasms by Site |
| D052776 | Female Urogenital Diseases |
| D005261 | Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications |
| D000091642 | Urogenital Diseases |
| D001745 | Urinary Bladder Diseases |
| D014570 | Urologic Diseases |
| D052801 | Male Urogenital Diseases |
| D007674 | Kidney Diseases |
| D000230 | Adenocarcinoma |
| D002277 | Carcinoma |
| D009375 | Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial |
| D009370 | Neoplasms by Histologic Type |
| D007414 | Intestinal Neoplasms |
| D005770 | Gastrointestinal Neoplasms |
| D004067 | Digestive System Neoplasms |
| D004066 | Digestive System Diseases |
| D005767 | Gastrointestinal Diseases |
| D003108 | Colonic Diseases |
| D007410 | Intestinal Diseases |
| D012002 | Rectal Diseases |
| D002294 | Carcinoma, Squamous Cell |
| D008107 | Liver Diseases |
| D012142 | Respiratory Tract Neoplasms |
| D013899 | Thoracic Neoplasms |
| D008171 | Lung Diseases |
| D012140 | Respiratory Tract Diseases |
| D002283 | Carcinoma, Bronchogenic |
| D001984 | Bronchial Neoplasms |
| D012871 | Skin Diseases |
| D017437 | Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases |
| D018358 | Neuroendocrine Tumors |
| D017599 | Neuroectodermal Tumors |
| D009373 | Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal |
| D009380 | Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue |
| D018326 | Nevi and Melanomas |
| D014594 | Uterine Neoplasms |
| D005833 | Genital Neoplasms, Female |
| D014591 | Uterine Diseases |
| D005831 | Genital Diseases, Female |
| D000091662 | Genital Diseases |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D062005 | Biopsy, Large-Core Needle |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D001707 | Biopsy, Needle |
| D001706 | Biopsy |
| D003581 | Cytodiagnosis |
| D003584 | Cytological Techniques |
| D019411 | Clinical Laboratory Techniques |
| D019937 | Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures |
| D003933 | Diagnosis |
| D013048 | Specimen Handling |
| D003949 | Diagnostic Techniques, Surgical |
| D013514 | Surgical Procedures, Operative |
| D011677 | Punctures |
| D008919 | Investigative Techniques |
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