Immunotherapy Monitoring with ctDNA and Plasma MSI: Insights from Pashtoon Kasi – MediaMedic
MediaMedic shared a recent article by Pashtoon Kasi, Medical Director of GI Medical Oncology at City of Hope, Orange County, on LinkedIn:
“Revolutionizing Immunotherapy Monitoring with Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) and Plasma MSI: Insights from Dr. Pashtoon Kasi.
Dr. Pashtoon Kasi, sheds light on the potential of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and plasma microsatellite instability (MSI) in predicting responses to PD-1 blockade immunotherapy.
Using liquid biopsies, this approach enables real-time tracking of ctDNA and MSI changes, offering an early indication of treatment efficacy for MSI-high tumors.
Notably, these biomarkers can identify responders within weeks of initiating therapy, well ahead of standard imaging methods.
Dr. Pashtoon Kasi’s research emphasizes the role of ctDNA and MSI as dynamic biomarkers in tailoring treatment strategies for MSI-high colorectal cancers (CRCs).
With pembrolizumab an FDA-approved tumor-agnostic immunotherapy delivering significant benefits for MSI-high tumors, this method provides a non-invasive and rapid means to distinguish responders from non-responders, potentially guiding timely therapeutic adjustments.
These findings are paving the way for systematically designed studies to integrate ctDNA and MSI monitoring into clinical practice.
As immunotherapy applications grow, such advancements could redefine patient care, ensuring more precise and effective treatment pathways.”
Circulating tumor DNA and plasma microsatellite instability during PD-1 blockade
Author: Pashtoon Kasi
Dr. Pashtoon Kasi is the Medical Director of GI Medical Oncology at City of Hope, Orange County. Previously, Dr. Kasi served as an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Iowa, following positions as an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Oncology at both the University of Iowa and Mayo Clinic. He also served as the Director of Colon Cancer Research and Director of Precision Medicine Research for Liquid Biopsies at Weill Cornell Medicine.
His research primarily focuses on “liquid biopsies,” particularly circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Dr. Kasi is also recognized as an author and editor of several significant books, including “Research: What, Why, and How: A Treatise from Researchers to Researchers” and “Impact of Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) in Patients with Gastrointestinal Malignancies.”
His scholarly contributions extend to over 100 publications in esteemed peer-reviewed journals. He also received the Yvonne Award 2024 by OncoDaily in the “challenging the status quo” category.
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