October 14 2025
NRG translational science investigators have been successful obtaining NCTN Core Correlative Science Committee (CCSC) approvals as well as Cancer Moonshot Research Initiative funding for projects utilizing NRG biospecimens to validate novel biomarkers that can be incorporated in future trials.
The NCTN CCSC reviews proposals submitted via NCTN Navigator(https://navigator.ctsu.org/navigator/login) for scientific merit ensuring the limited resource of high-quality, clinically annotated NCTN biospecimens from late-phase trials yields the best science. NRG has had 38 successful Navigator applications, with another 13 currently in the review process. A full listing of all approved Navigator applications across the NCTN can be found here https://dctd.cancer.gov/research/networks/nctn/ccsc/approved-studies.pdf. Additionally, 31 NRG applications have been approved for projects utilizing early-phase or biobanking-only trial biospecimens. Investigators interested in utilizing NCTN biospecimens can now explore all available NCTN biospecimens using the NCTN Catalog https://nctnbanks.cancer.gov/catalog/
The Molecular Profiling to Predict Response to Treatment (MP2PRT) program is a Cancer Moonshot Research Initiative supporting the retrospective characterization and analysis of biospecimens collected on NCI-sponsored clinical trials. Three NRG investigators have on-going Moonshot research projects utilizing NRG biospecimens.
Dr. Krishnansu Tewari’s project, “Predictive Biomarkers for Chemotherapy plus Bevacizumab in Recurrent/Metastatic Cervical Cancer: The NRG Oncology/GOG-0240 NIH Cancer Moonshot” was recently presented at ASCO 2025https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.5523
Dr. Casey Cosgrove has submitted an abstract, “Race-Associated Genomic and Transcriptomic Features and Outcomes in High-Risk Endometrial Cancer: A Cancer Moonshot and NRG Oncology/GOG-210 Study” for consideration at SGO 2026.
Dr. Christine Chung has received NRG-HN002 and RTOG 1016 tissue and blood biospecimens to examine if PIK3CA activating and/or PTEN inactivating mutations are predictive biomarkers of cetuximab resistance or worse PFS in patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer and to determine associations between decreased PTEN expression, an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and PFS. Testing is currently underway.