Comprehensive circulating nucleic acid analysis to identify biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)

Studies investigating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) have produced modest results, compounded by a lack of well-validated efficacy biomarkers. Analysis of cell-free DNA and cell-free RNA (cfDNA/cfRNA) may be an alternative path to ICI biomarker discovery. This 12-month project will utilise a novel cfDNA/cfRNA assay to analyse baseline/serial plasma samples from the prospective ICE-PAC clinical trial of avelumab ICI plus SABR in mCRPC. The major goal is to define the dynamic mutational landscape in the context of ICI therapy, and identify potential candidate biomarkers in circulation that may predict benefit/non-benefit.