MYC Amplification as a Prognostic Biomarker in Osteosarcoma Sponsored by BTG Speciality Pharmaceuticals

This episode is sponsored by BTG Speciality Pharmaceuticals. BTG provides rescue medicines typically used in emergency rooms and intensive care units to treat patients for whom there are limited treatment options. They are dedicated to delivering quality medicines that make a real difference to patients and their families through the development, manufacture, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. Their current portfolio of antidotes counteracts certain snake venoms and the toxicity associated with some heart and cancer medications. Their drug, Voraxaze, is for high-dose methotrexate toxicity. This talk will focus on research elucidating MYC amplification as the first genomic prognostic biomarker in osteosarcoma, which may be used for risk stratification in future clinical trials and to inform conversations with patients and families. Dr. Marinoff will discuss the tools used to detect MYC amplification, what we have learned about its association with outcome in children/ young adults with osteosarcoma, and what we still don't know but are trying hard to find out: the biological roles of MYC amplification in driving osteosarcoma and how it may serve as a potential therapeutic target in the future. Dr. Marinoff graduated from Harvard Medical School and completed her pediatric residency at Boston Combined Residency Program, during which time she worked with Dr. Katie Janeway on elucidating the genomic landscape of and novel genomic biomarkers in osteosarcoma. She is currently completing her fellowship training in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at UCSF, where she is focused on developing novel genome-informed therapeutics for osteosarcoma under the mentorship of Dr. Alejandro Sweet-Cordero. She plans to develop an active clinical and translational research program focused on conducting early phase precision medicine-oriented trials for patients with advanced sarcomas. She is grateful to have the best job in the world.