PREDICT

The aim of the PREDICT consortium is the identification of predictive biomarkers for individual patient response to renal cancer therapy. During the last years two drugs, sunitinib and everolimus, have been approved for renal cell carcinoma. However, so far, no corresponding biomarkers exist. Sunitinib addresses different tyrosine kinases and its mode of action is anti-angiogenetic. Everolimus is an inhibitor of the mTOR pathway. The approach of the PREDICT consortium is based on the identification of genomic and transcriptomic signatures predicting the response to treatment with one these drugs. To this end, tumour tissue is collected from patients participating in clinical studies with either sunitinib oder everolimus single treatment regimen and RNA-expression, DNA-copy number as well as exon-sequences are determined. These data sets are compared with phospho-kinome-analyses and drug resistance or hypoxia screens using genome-wide siRNA or personalised transcriptome-based shRNA libraries to allow for the identification of biomarkers and molecular mechanisms implicated in intrinsic or acquired drug resistance. Early detection of drug resistance will give RCC patients access to alternative therapies.