Biovica, active in cancer monitoring, today announces that three abstracts based on studies using the blood test DiviTum TKa will be presented at the world's largest cancer meeting, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), May 30 – June 3, 2025. ASCO is the world’s largest and most influential oncology conference, bringing together approximately 31,000 oncology professionals.
The new data further validates DiviTum TKa as a predictive biomarker across three cancer indications:
- Hormone receptor-positive (HR+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors in the high-profile PEARL study
- BRAF V600-mutated metastatic melanoma treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI)
- Ovarian cancer treated with platinum-based chemotherapy
While the PEARL study represents a large-scale trial that addresses a key clinical decision-making challenge in MBC – whether to select newer versus established treatment combinations – the studies in melanoma and ovarian cancer are more exploratory in nature.
"It is exciting that DiviTum TKa will be presented to such a large audience as a predictive biomarker for personalized treatment selection in MBC, malignant melanoma, and ovarian cancer, thereby significantly extending the number of patients who can benefit from DiviTum TKa. Equally exciting, that DiviTum TKa can also predict outcomes for patients receiving the new generation Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for malignant melanoma," said Anders Rylander, CEO of Biovica.
Thank you to the long list of partners in eight European countries, who have contributed to bringing about new knowledge.
More about the
| Abstract Title |
Institution |
Patient Population |
Key Findings |
“Thymidine kinase activity (TKa) as independent predictor of outcome in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients in the
GEICAM/2013-02 PEARL trial: A predictive biomarker for personalized treatment selection between Capecitabine vs ET + Palbociclib in MBC” |
GEICAM, Spain |
Treatment for HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (MBC) with early (≤12 months) progression. |
TKa can predict for personalized treatment selection between Capecitabine vs ET + PalbociclibCT vs a CDK4/6 inhibitor influence TKa response differently, and the direction and magnitude of the TKa response can predict for benefit to a specific therapy.
The original PEARL study analysis showed no outcome differences between Cape vs ET + Palbo in HR+/HER2- MBC pts, however assessment of TKa before and during therapy identified which patients had the highest probability of responding. |
| “Serum Thymidine Kinase Activity (TKa) as a Potential Biomarker in the Sequential Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy for Metastatic BRAF V600 Mutated Melanoma (SECOMBIT) trial” |
30 centers in: Austria, France Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland |
BRAF V600 mutated
metastatic melanoma |
TKa can predict patient outcome in
BRAF V600 mutated metastatic melanoma
Patients with elevated TKa is an evident poor prognosis group.
First study to evaluate the role of TKa as a biomarker in a prospective clinical trial in patients with metastatic melanoma. |
| “Thymidine kinase activity as a prognostic and predictive tool in blood samples from primary ovarian cancer patients” |
University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany |
Ovarian Cancer |
Baseline TKa levels in both serum and plasma significantly correlated with OS and DFS, which identifies circulating TKa as a promising prognostic marker in OC. It might further serve as a predictive marker for response to platinum-based chemotherapy. However, prospective validation of these results is needed in order to further specify the clinical value of TKa. |
List of abbreviations
BC Breast Cancer
BL Base Line – prior to treatment
BRAF V600 BRAF is a human gene responsible for producing the protein B-Raf, which is involved in signaling direct cell growth. The V600E mutation describes an amino acid substitution at position 600 in BRAF from a valine (V) to a glutamic acid (E)
CDK4/6i CDK4/6 inhibitor treatments
DFS Disease-Free Survival
HER2 Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2
HR Hormone receptor
HR+ Hormone receptor-positive
MBC Metastatic Breast Cancer
OS Overall Survival
Pts Patients
TKa Thymidine Kinase activity