DEFINING NORMAL TISSUE AND TUMOR BIOMARKERS OF RADIOSENSITIVITY TO BEST DIRECT TREATMENT

Radiation therapy has been a critical part of our approach to cure cancer for almost years While thetechnology for radiation delivery has dramatically improved the ability to personalize radiation treatmentbased on baseline genetic differences between patients has not yet been applied to direct therapy We have discovered that inherited germline DNA biomarkers disrupting microRNA regulatory networks act as biomarkers of the radiation response predicting toxicity and the radio immune response In thisproposal we will further validate and refine this panel of biomarkers for each of the key radiation endpoints normal tissue toxicity tumor control and the radio immune response We will use prospectively collectedsamples from a large clinical patient population treated with current radiation techniques as well as a PhaseI II trail incorporating anti PD L therapy with radiation By the end of this contract we will have a fullyvalidatedpanel of biomarkers that can be applied as a test to direct radiation therapy to minimize toxicityand enhance the potential of radiation to cure cancer Radiation treatment is a cornerstone of our battleagainst cancer and allowing the optimal use of this powerful treatment for each individual patient will have avery broad impact on human health