Largest Prospective Study to Date Further Supports Performance of DecisionDx®-UM for Metastatic Risk Stratification in Uveal Melanoma and Utility of PRAME Biomarker for Refining Risk When Considered with DecisionDx-UM Class Result
Castle Biosciences, Inc. released new data confirming the effectiveness of DecisionDx-UM in predicting metastasis-free survival in patients with uveal melanoma. The study also validated the PRAME biomarker as a tool to refine risk assessment when combined with the DecisionDx-UM result. The findings were presented at the ARVO 2024 Annual Meeting. Uveal melanoma is a severe eye cancer, and the DecisionDx-UM test is important for determining metastatic risk and guiding treatment plans.
The study further confirmed the accuracy of the DecisionDx-UM test in predicting metastasis-free survival in patients diagnosed with uveal melanoma.
PRAME was validated as a risk refinement tool when assessed alongside a DecisionDx-UM result, offering more precise risk assessment for UM patients.
The combination of DecisionDx-UM and PRAME helps optimize surveillance, guide treatment decisions, and enhance patient care in uveal melanoma.
Despite high primary tumor cure rates, metastatic disease eventually affects about half of all uveal melanoma patients.
Patients with Class 2 tumors had worse outcomes compared to those with Class 1 tumors, regardless of PRAME status.
The study highlights the challenges and risks associated with uveal melanoma, even with advanced diagnostic tools like DecisionDx-UM and PRAME.
Oral presentation at ARVO shares ground-breaking findings from the ongoing Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group (COOG) study 2 (COOG2) of patients with uveal melanoma (UM)
Uveal melanoma is an aggressive cancer of the eye, and despite high primary tumor cure rates, metastatic disease spread eventually impacts about half of all patients.1 The DecisionDx-UM test is considered the standard of care in the management of newly diagnosed UM to assist in determining risk of metastasis, which is critical for informing appropriate treatment plans.
“The latest findings from the COOG2 study not only further support DecisionDx-UM’s ability to predict metastatic risk, but also highlight the utility of PRAME as a valuable adjunct biomarker for further risk refinement when considered in conjunction with a DecisionDx-UM result,” said lead study author and COOG investigator Zelia Correa, M.D., Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology and director of ocular oncology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “The study data provides support for combining the reported expression status of the PRAME gene with the DecisionDx-UM class result to enhance metastatic risk prediction. Specifically, distinguishing between PRAME-negative (-) and PRAME-positive (+) subgroups within DecisionDx-UM Class 1 and Class 2 tumors provides additional biological insights into an individual patient’s likelihood of metastasis. This information can be utilized to optimize surveillance and guide more nuanced and risk-aligned treatment decisions.”
Details regarding the presentation at ARVO are included below:
- Oral Presentation Title: Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group study 2 (COOG2): Prospective multi-center validation of the 15-gene expression profile (GEP)/PRAME molecular prognostic tool for uveal melanoma in 1586 patients
- Session Type: Paper Session (Wednesday, May 8)
- Presentation Number: 4273
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Summary: This prospective, multi-center study included 1,586 patients with posterior UM tumors enrolled across 26 ocular oncology centers in
the United States andCanada . In the study, a DecisionDx-UM Class 2 result was the most robust independent predictor of MFS (HR 6.03;95% CI, 4.49-8.09); P<0.001), followed by PRAME status (HR 1.77;95% CI, 1.39-2.27; P<0.001). Patients with Class 2 tumors had considerably worse outcomes than those with Class 1 tumors, regardless of PRAME status; however, PRAME+ tumors fared worse within each GEP class (versus PRAME-). When considered together, five-year MFS rates were95.6% (95% CI, 93.9-97.4) for Class 1/PRAME-,80.6% (73.9-87.9) for Class 1/PRAME+,57.6% (50.6-65.7) for Class 2/PRAME- and44.8% (38.0-52.8) for Class 2/PRAME+. Overall, the study confirms the prognostic accuracy of the DecisionDx-UM test and provides the first prospective validation of PRAME status as a risk refinement tool when considered in the context of a Class 1 or Class 2 DecisionDx-UM result. These two tests together can guide more precise and risk-aligned decision-making for patients with UM, including referrals, intensity of imaging surveillance and eligibility for ongoing clinical trials.
J. William Harbour, M.D., ophthalmologist, ocular oncologist, and professor and chair of the department of ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, is a leading innovator in the treatment and study of UM and an executive committee member of the COOG. As the original developer of the DecisionDx-UM test, which was licensed to Castle in 2009, Harbour continues to drive important advancements in the treatment of UM and co-authored this study with Correa.
The presented abstract described above can be viewed online in the ARVO Meeting Planner.
About DecisionDx®-UM
DecisionDx-UM is Castle Biosciences’ 15-gene expression profile (GEP) test that uses an individual patient’s tumor biology to predict individual risk of metastasis in patients with uveal melanoma (UM). DecisionDx-UM is the standard of care in the management of newly diagnosed UM in the majority of ocular oncology practices in
About DecisionDx®-PRAME
Castle Biosciences offers testing with DecisionDx-PRAME as an optional add-on to the DecisionDx-UM test. PRAME (preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma) is an antigen gene that is not expressed at appreciable levels in normal adult tissues, but its expression can become aberrantly increased in some types of cancer, including melanoma. Once expressed, the PRAME protein can be processed and presented on the surface of cells, thereby serving as a potential target for therapeutic intervention. PRAME-directed therapies are being explored in multiple cancer types, including uveal melanoma. More information about DecisionDx-PRAME can be found here.
About the Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group
The Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group (COOG) is the largest collaborative working group in
About Castle Biosciences
Castle Biosciences (Nasdaq: CSTL) is a leading diagnostics company improving health through innovative tests that guide patient care. The Company aims to transform disease management by keeping people first: patients, clinicians, employees and investors.
Castle’s current portfolio consists of tests for skin cancers, Barrett’s esophagus, mental health conditions and uveal melanoma. Additionally, the Company has active research and development programs for tests in other diseases with high clinical need, including its test in development to help guide systemic therapy selection for patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and related conditions. To learn more, please visit www.CastleBiosciences.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.
DecisionDx-Melanoma, DecisionDx-CMSeq, DecisionDx-SCC, MyPath Melanoma, DiffDx-Melanoma, TissueCypher, IDgenetix, DecisionDx-UM, DecisionDx-PRAME and DecisionDx-UMSeq are trademarks of Castle Biosciences, Inc.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: (i) the ability of the DecisionDx-UM test to assist in determining risk of metastasis to inform appropriate treatment plans; (ii) the utility of PRAME as a valuable biomarker when considered in conjunction with a DecisionDx-UM test result; and (iii) the ability of the DecisionDx-UM test and PRAME to guide more nuanced and risk-aligned treatment decisions for patients with UM, including referrals, intensity of imaging surveillance and eligibility for ongoing clinical trials. The words “can,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements that we make. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: subsequent study or trial results and findings may contradict earlier study or trial results and findings or may not support the results shown in this study, including with respect to the discussion of DecisionDx-UM in this press release; actual application of our DecisionDx-UM test may not provide the aforementioned benefits to patients; and the risks set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 and in our other filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements are applicable only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.
- Kujala E, Mäkitie T, Kivelä T. Very long-term prognosis of patients with malignant uveal melanoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003 Nov 1;44(11):4651.
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Source: Castle Biosciences Inc.
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