Partnership undertakes Landmark Microbiome Study

Cancer Research UK, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), and microbiome-based therapeutics and biomarkers business Microbiotica are collaborating to identify and develop microbiome co-therapeutics and biomarkers for cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Two clinical studies are involved: MELRESIST, a completed class-leading melanoma study, and MITRE, a major landmark study in melanoma, lung and renal cancer, involving 1,800 patients, specifically designed for evaluation of microbiome and other biomarker effects.

The MITRE study is being co-led by Dr Trevor Lawley, Microbiotica’s co-founder and CSO and
Dr Pippa Corrie, Consultant in Medical Oncology at CUH. It involves comprehensive patient sample collection, data collection and biochemical analysis, with mass culturing of patient gut bacteria, microbiome sequencing and machine learning analysis.

Mike Romanos, Co-founder and CEO, Microbiotica, said: “Checkpoint inhibitors have already impacted the lives of many cancer patients for the better but fewer than half of patients respond. There is strong evidence that response rates can be increased through manipulation of the microbiome and Microbiotica’s platform has already been able to identify consistent bacterial signatures predictive of drug response in melanoma for the first time.

Tony Hickson, Chief Business Officer, Cancer Research UK, said:

“Cancer Research UK is always looking at the most promising new science to advance the treatment of patients, and we believe that the microbiome represents a very exciting new area that could play a major role in cancer therapy. We believe this partnership is very well placed to do the quality of science required to identify the specific link between the gut microbiome and checkpoint inhibitors in multiple cancers. We look forward to working with the excellent teams in Microbiotica and Cambridge University Hospitals to progress new microbiome medicines and biomarkers toward the clinic.”