Pan-Cancer Mycobiome Analysis Platform to Predict Survival and Treatment Response

Principal Investigator: 

Iliyan D. Iliev, Associate Professor of Immunology in Medicine

Background & Unmet Need

  • The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex ecosystem of immune cells, extracellular matrix, blood vessels, and other cell types
  • While the microbiome (bacteria) has been shown to participate in the TME and influence response to cancer treatments, the role of the mycobiome (fungi) is poorly understood
  • For instance, the gut microbiome plays a significant role in whether patients respond to anti-PDL1 treatment
  • An improved understanding of the TME and the role of bacteria and fungi may lead to the development of improved diagnostics and treatments
  • Unmet Need: Improved platform for analyzing the tumor microbiome and mycobiome

Technology Overview

  • The Technology: A computational platform to extract fungal sequences from sequencing data of human tumor samples
  • The Discovery: Candida-to-S.Cerevisae ratio were predictive of metastatic colon cancer
  • Fungal species, specifically C. albicans and S. Cerevisae species, are prognostic markers of disease progression and worse clinical outcomes of GI cancers
  • PoC Data: Fungal species associate with primary tumor samples and with different stages of disease, specifically in GI tumors
  • The technology provides a novel method of screening and stratifying cancer patients who may be candidates for antifungal therapy

Technology Applications

  • Computational platform to identify tumor-associated fungal species
  • Development of a prognostic resource specifically for GI cancers where the technology has identified Candida ssp. as markers for disease progression and outcome
  • Identification of potentially druggable fungal species to improve patient outcome

Technology Advantages

  • The technology offers a unique framework to detect tumor associated fungal species
  • The insights gained through the application of the technology could identify new prognostic markers and inform new treatment strategies such as anti-fungal therapies
  • Future advances in detection of fungal DNA in blood samples could allow non-invasive diagnostics

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Intellectual Property

Patents

  • PCT Application Filed WO2024035638A1: "Methods for classifying and treating gastrointestinal tumors based on mycobiome analysis"

Cornell Reference

  • 10421

Contact Information

Brian Kelly, Ph.D.

For additional information please contact

Brian Kelly
Director, Business Development and Licensing
Phone: (646) 962-7041
Email: bjk44@cornell.edu