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Bilušić, Marijo

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1020-689X

Mayo Clinic

University of Miami

Citations 4

Prevalence of treatment-acquired homozygous losses (homozygous deletions) of PTEN from androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPI) in metastatic prostate cancer.
Bose, R., Vento, Joseph , Kase, Adam M. , Berchuck, Jacob E. , Cortez, Eliane, Ross, Jeffrey S., Graf, R., Bilušić, Marijo , Li, Gerald , Danziger, Natalie , Ross, Jeffrey S , Graf, Ryon P.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 2, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 7_suppl | Pages: 27-27

10.1200/jco.2026.44.7_suppl.27 Get It

27 Background: Validated homozygous loss detection is becoming increasingly important in clinical practice, with prostate NCCN guideline inclusion of BRCA1/2 loss (often portending durable PARP inhibitor benefit) and multi-tumor trials of PRMT5 and MAT2A inhibitors ongoing (biomarker: MTAP loss). Homozygous losses are challenging to detect and require intentional NGS assay design and validations. Using an FDA-approved NGS assay, we evaluated the most frequent losses identified in metastatic prostate cancer, evaluated prognostic associations on ARPI, and prevalence before and after ARPI treatments. Methods: This study used the nationwide (US-based) de-identified Flatiron Health-Foundation Medicine Prostate Cancer clinico-genomic database (FH-FMI CGDB), originating from approximately 280 US cancer clinics (~800 sites of care). Patients with metastatic prostate cancer and tissue tumor genomic testing by FoundationOne CDx were eligible for analysis. Alteration prevalence was compared between non-sequential groups of specimens obtained from patients naïve to ADT and ARPI, naïve to ARPI but not ADT, or exposed to any ARPI. Outcome analyses adjusted for: ECOG performance score, age, baseline PSA, and socioeconomic status. To limit immortal time confounding, outcome analyses were restricted to patients with specimens tested prior to initiation of ARPI. Results: 1990 specimens from 1984 unique patients met criteria for assessment. The most common losses and respective ADT & ARPI naïve vs ADT exposed & ARPI-naïve vs ARPI-exposed prevalence were PTEN (17.1% vs 24.8% vs. 33.5%, p < 0.001), FAS (2.4% vs 5.0% vs 5.8%, p = 0.003), BRCA2 (4.2% vs 3.2% vs. 2.8%, p = 0.36), RB1 (1.6% vs 3.0% vs 3.5%, p = 0.062), and TP53 (2.3% vs 2.3% vs 4.4%, p = 0.064). 227 patients had tissue specimens obtained and NGS results reported prior to initiation of ARPI. Sufficient patients with PTEN loss were present for nominal outcome associations, observing less favorable time to next treatment (HR: 1.81, 95%CI: 1.24 – 2.65, p = 0.002) and overall survival (HR: 1.65, 95%CI: 1.02 – 2.65, p = 0.040) from the initiation of ARPI. In the mHSPC (ADT and ARPI naïve) setting, 17.1% had PTEN loss, 32.8% had an HRR gene alteration, and 2.8% had both. Conclusions: Our results are consistent with homozygous losses of certain genes, notably PTEN , potentially being acquired resistance alterations to ARPI. Prostate cancer trials often do not specify timing of specimen acquisition relative to treatment initiation. For trials like IPATential-150 or CAPItello-280 that evaluate AKT inhibitors in post-ARPI setting, patients with PTEN status determined by archival tissue could be false negatives and reduce power of analysis in biomarker(+) group. Our results underscore the importance of clinical context, especially prior treatment exposures, when interpreting biomarker prevalence.
Phase 1, dose-escalation study of KTX-2001 (an NSD2 inhibitor) alone and in combination with darolutamide for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Abida, Wassim , Aggarwal, Rahul Raj, Kouchkovsky, Ivan de, Cerda, Jose De La , Armstrong, Andrew J., Shore, Neal D., Stein, Mark N. , Coyne, Geraldine Helen O'Sullivan, Bicer, Fuat , Mortazavi, Amir, Heath, Elisabeth I. , Barnett, Miriam, Flynt, J. Erin, Sridharan, Vinidhra, Armstrong, Andrew J. , Armstrong, Andrew J , Kouchkovsky, Ivan de , Lang, Joshua M. , McManus, Hannah D. , Shore, Neal D. , Wei, Alexander Z. , Bilušić, Marijo , O'Sullivan Coyne, Geraldine , Mortazavi, Amir , Flynt, Erin , Redman, Jason Mark , Wise, David R

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 2, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 7_suppl | Pages: No page available

10.1200/jco.2026.44.7_suppl.tps276 Get It

TPS276 Background: Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) can evolve into a neuroendocrine-like subtype with aggressive behavior and poor outcomes (1). Nuclear Receptor-Binding SET Domain Protein 2 (NSD2) is overexpressed in prostate cancer and is a driver of both androgen-receptor (AR)-dependent signaling and of neuroendocrine differentiation, where cancer cells lose AR dependence and response to AR pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) (2,3,4). In studies of patient-derived neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) models, genetic depletion of NSD2 led to restoration of AR expression, reversal of adeno-to-neuroendocrine differentiation, and re-sensitization to ARPI (4). We hypothesize that NSD2 inhibition can reverse resistance to ARPIs in patients with progressive mCRPC, including with neuroendocrine differentiation. KTX-2001 is an oral, potent and selective small molecule inhibitor of NSD2. It is the sponsor’s second NSD2 inhibitor to enter the clinic. The sponsor’s first in class NSD2 inhibitor, KTX-1001, was shown to be tolerable and have preliminary efficacy in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (5). Methods: STRIKE-001 (NCT07103018) is a multicenter, open-label phase 1 dose escalation trial of KTX-2001 monotherapy (Part A) and KTX-2001 + darolutamide (Part B). Key inclusion criteria are males age ≥18 years with mCRPC, progression after receiving ARPI, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score of 0-1, willingness to undergo biopsy if safe and feasible, and life expectancy of ≥6 months. Participants take KTX-2001 by mouth once daily alone (Part A) or with darolutamide 600 mg twice daily (Part B). Dose escalation of KTX-2001 in Parts A and B will follow a 3+3 design and occur in parallel at multiple planned dose levels. Primary objectives are to assess the safety and tolerability, determine MTD, and determine RP2D(s) for further study of KTX-2001 alone and in combination with darolutamide. Secondary objectives include characterization of efficacy and PK parameters for both KTX-2001 monotherapy and in combination with darolutamide. Exploratory objectives include study of pharmacodynamic effects, circulating tumor cells, and cell-free DNA. 1. Conteduca V, Eur J Cancer 2019. 2. Parolia A, Nat Genet 2024. 3. Aytes A, Nat Commun 2018 4. Li J, bioRxiv 2023.07.18.549585 5. Bories P, Blood Vol 144, Suppl 1,2024. Clinical trial information: NCT07103018 .
A phase II study of niraparib (N), abiraterone acetate (AA) plus prednisone (P) for Hispanic/Latino (HL) and non-Hispanic Black (NHB) patients with metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) and deleterious homologous recombination repair alterat
Qin, Qian , Jiang, Changchuan , Zhang, Song , Vento, Joseph , Tawagi, Karine , McGuire, Molly , Rowell, A.C. , Reimers, Melissa A. , Heath, Elisabeth I. , Zhang, Tian , Cole, Suzanne , Courtney, Kevin D , Wang, Jue , Arafat, Waddah , Reizine, Natalie , Bilušić, Marijo , Wise, David R

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: No page available

10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.tps5130 Get It

TPS5130 Background: Patients with prostate cancer and deleterious HRRa have poorer prognosis but derive benefit from poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition. However, prevalence of HRRa and response to PARP inhibition are less well defined in racial/ethnic minorities. We designed the HARMONY trial to evaluate the efficacy of N/AA/P in HL and NHB patients with mHSPC and deleterious HRRa. Methods: This multicenter, open label, phase II study is open through the Hoosier Cancer Research Network in the United States. The trial enrolls patients who self-identify as HL or NHB and have mHSPC with HRRa including BRCA 1/2, BRIP1, CHEK2, FANCA, PALB2, RAD51B, and/or RAD54L. Eligible patients will have hormone sensitive, treatment naïve or minimally treated prostate cancer (i.e., bicalutamide ≤ 45 days, androgen deprivation therapy [ADT] ± AA plus P ≤ 45 days allowed). Prostate cancer variants, other therapy in mHSPC setting, or symptomatic brain metastases are exclusionary. Enrolled patients will receive 24 weeks (w) of ADT plus N/AA dual action tablet (DAT) plus P, followed by an adaptive approach based on prostate specific antigen (PSA) response. Subjects in Arm A (PSA > 4.0 ng/mL at 24 w) can continue ADT/N/AA/P for max 2 years or stop N and escalate therapy to ADT/AA/P plus 6 cycles of docetaxel followed by standard of care (SOC) therapy. Subjects in Arm B (PSA ≤ 4.0 ng/mL at 24 w) will continue ADT/N/AA/P for a total of 12 months. At 12 months in Arm B, subjects with PSA ≥ 0.2 ng/mL will continue ADT/N/AA/P for max 2 years, and subjects achieving PSA < 0.2 ng/mL have the option to continue ADT/N/AA/P for max 2 years or discontinue all therapy with the option to start SOC treatment at disease progression. PSA decline to < 0.2 ng/mL at 24w (primary endpoint) will be evaluated for each racial/ethnicity group against a historic rate of 50%. Thirty patients per racial/ethnic cohort will give 80% power at 0.1 significance to determine noninferiority with a no-inferiority margin of 0.185. Estimating 5% drop out, 64 patients will be enrolled (n=32 HL and n=32 NHB). Key secondary/exploratory endpoints include PSA reduction ≥ 90%, overall response rate, PSA/radiographic progression free survival, overall survival, time to subsequent anti-cancer therapy, quality of life and safety. Key genomic correlatives will be evaluated. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06392841. Study support of drug and funding: Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC. Clinical trial information: NCT06392841 .
A phase 1/2, open-label, dose-escalation, safety and tolerability study of NC410 in subjects with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.
Gutierrez, Martin , Jankú, Filip , Tian, Linjie, Shin, John Y. , Weiss, Ido D., Liu, Linda N. , Files, Dallas, Langermann, Solomon , Myint, Han, Bilušić, Marijo , Luke, Jason J. , Shum, Elaine

Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 2, 2021 | Volume: 39 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: TPS2659-TPS2659

10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.tps2659 Get It

TPS2659 Background: Leukocyte-Associated Immunoglobulin-like Receptor (LAIR)-1 and LAIR-2 are members of the Leukocyte Receptor Complex (LRC) (An & Brodsky, 2016). LAIR-1 is a co-inhibitory receptor expressed on several subsets of immune cells, and functions to delimit immune responses (Meyaard et al., 1997). LAIR-2 is a secreted protein with homology to the transmembrane protein LAIR-1 (Lebbink et al., 2008). In cancer, it is hypothesized that LAIR-1 expression on several subsets of leukocytes prevents optimal immune responses by limiting both innate and adaptive immune functionality. LAIR-1 serves to suppress anti-tumor immunity through the inhibition of stimulatory signaling pathways. Specifically, LAIR-1 is a checkpoint and adhesion receptor on T cells that limits T cell activation and increases adhesion to collagens (Meyaard, 2008). LAIR-2 is capable of blocking LAIR-1 functional interactions with ligands, resulting in improved immune function on multiple immune cell subsets. Dysregulation of LAIR-1 ligands in the tumor microenvironment results in excessive production of collagens and complement C1q as well as altered forms of collagens, that leads to immune inhibition through binding to LAIR-1+ immune cells. NC410 is a dimeric form of the LAIR-2 protein fused to a human Fc domain of the immunoglobulin (Ig) subtype IgG1. The rationale for developing NC410 as a cancer therapeutic is based on nonclinical data demonstrating LAIR-1 signaling blockade can improve the immune response. Because LAIR-2 binds to ligands shared with LAIR-1 with increased affinity, NC410 acts as a decoy receptor for LAIR-1 ligands releasing suppression from myeloid cells and T cells and promoting anti-tumor immunity. NC410 may also mediate remodeling of the tumor extracellular matrix, further contributing to anti-tumor activity. Methods: This is a multi-center, first in human, phase 1/2, open-label, single-armed study to determine the safety and tolerability, define maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and/or pharmacologically active dose, assess preliminary efficacy, and explore predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers of NC410 in subjects with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. Key eligibility criteria include measurable disease based on RECIST v1.1 and being able to consent for collection of biopsies at screening and on treatment. Phase 1 is a classic 3+3 dose escalation design to determine the safety, tolerability, DLT, MTD and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) (NCT04408599). Ongoing exploratory analyses include the assessment of predictive biomarkers associated with treatment benefit, and pharmacodynamic markers associated with study drug activity. Phase 2 is going to enroll ovarian, colorectal, NSCLC, H&N, and gastric carcinomas and other tumors depending on biomarker data available from the Phase 1 part of the study. Clinical trial information: 04408599.