Imagion Biosystems presents interim data from MagSense study into breast cancer detection

Cancer detection technology developer Imagion Biosystems (ASX: IBX) has reported a maiden set of results relating to exploratory endpoints for its phase 1 MagSense HER2 breast cancer study.

The interim data pertains to a cohort of the first six patients participating in the trial.

Interim results were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in the US, which is attended by scientists and clinicians focused on breast cancer research and patient care.

The data to-date suggests the molecular signature of Imagion’s MagSense imaging agent could help discriminate potentially cancerous nodes from normal nodes when used with conventional MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

When combined with standard morphological assessments, the imaging agent has the potential to improve radiological evaluation and standard of care clinical assessments.

Important findings from the results included changes in MR (magnetic resonance) contrast created when MagSense binds to tumour cells in the nodes, which could aid in determining nodal status.

There were no reported safety, toxicity or adverse events from the study.

Advancing MagSense

Imagion chief executive officer Bob Proulx said the findings held potential for advancing MagSense.

“While the number of patients might seem small, the implications for are large as they provide the first proof-of-principle for our targeted nanoparticle technology in a clinical setting,” he said.

“Evidence in real patients that our nanoparticle technology could improve upon conventional medical imaging methods is a major milestone.”

Mr Proulx said enrolment for the second cohort is ongoing with results consistent with those reported at the forum.

Further studies will be conducted to broaden the study population and fully characterise MagSense’s diagnostic performance.

Commonly-diagnosed cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most commonly-diagnosed cancers and the second leading cause of cancer death among women.

Of the four subtypes, HER2 represents up to 20% of diagnoses and has significant prognostic and predictive implications as it is considered to be an aggressive phenotype with a high rate of recurrence and metastasis.

HER2 status is frequently maintained during progression to invasive disease, nodal metastasis and distant metastasis.

Nodal status often determines the course of treatment including systemic therapy, the extent of surgery, reconstruction options and the need for radiation therapy after mastectomy.

Cancer detection

Currently, nodal assessment is based on palpation or conventional imaging techniques, (predominantly ultrasound) which aim to identify abnormal nodes but cannot confirm the presence of cancer.

Current standard of care cancer detection relies on invasive biopsies and follow-up by pathological confirmation.

Mr Proulx said Imagion’s non-invasive, molecularly-specific approach to cancer detection has the potential to improve overall diagnostic accuracy of axillary nodal imaging and reduce the need for invasive biopsies.