A unique study of cancer “super-responders” is being launched by the French firm Cure51 and several collaborators. The researchers are “seeking to unlock the biological mechanisms responsible for exceptional cancer survivors,” according to a press release.
As part of the project, tumor samples from over 1,000 cancer survivors across three aggressive types will be analyzed for genetics and biomarkers.
The Rosalind study, as it is called, will involve Cure51 partnering with nine leading U.K. hospitals: Cambridge University Hospitals, including: The Royal Marsden, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital Southampton, The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Velindre University NHS Trust (NHS Wales), Barts Health, University Hospitals Birmingham, and Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
The project is also multinational, “We have a network of more than 40 countries, across all continents (Taiwan, Peru, Jordan, Kenya, and on) and more than 100 hospitals,” Simon Istolainen, chief strategy, scientific network officer, and co-founder of Cure51 told Inside Precision Medicine. Currently, he added, they are still onboarding some of the hospitals.
Cure51 has developed a “multi-layered data hub to analyze the biological features of these cancer super-survivors, and with which to discover novel therapeutic targets for cancer,” they say. After all the samples are collected, the next step is. “Collect all cases, screen patients, profile their tissues with a multiomics approach, interpret and develop new therapies based on novel targets,” said Istolainen. The findings will be used to enrich Cure51’s multiomics database.
The Rosalind study will focus on three of the most aggressive cancers: extensive stage small cell lung cancer, brain cancer glioblastoma, and metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Researchers intend to gather tumor samples from over 1,000 exceptional responder patients, from around the world. These are among the top three percent of patients in these indications in terms of cancer survival. The aim is to identify the biological factors that underpin exceptional survival.
Thankamma Ajithkumar, PhD, consultant clinical oncologist at Cambridge University Hospitals, said, “With nearly 400,000 new cancer diagnoses annually in the U.K., understanding why some patients achieve remarkable survival is critical. Patients who appear superficially similar in terms of their age and health, and the type and stage of their cancer, can have remarkably different responses to the same treatment. The Rosalind study represents a promising new approach to investigating the biology of cancer survivors, aiming to uncover insights that could improve outcomes for all patients.”
Nicolas Wolikow, CEO and a co-founder of Cure51, said, “The Rosalind study marks a pivotal step, as our first and largest partnership in the U.K., advancing our mission to identify what sets cancer survivors apart. This work is made possible due to the support of the nine leading U.K. hospitals and institutions, all united in the goal of defeating cancer.”
“At Cure51, we are reverse engineering the cure for cancer. By leveraging technology, data and our dedicated team of computational biologists, we aim to uncover the hidden biology of miraculous survivors, to develop therapies that could one day make cancer a manageable disease for all. We are honored to have the support of nine of the world’s most influential hospitals in cancer research,” said Istolainen.
Cure51 raised €15 million Seed funding in March 2024 led by Sofinnova Partners. The Company also partnered with 10xGenomics to deploy its Visium HD precision technology in October 2024.
