Abstract 4350: Pharmacodynamic Biomarkers: Evaluation of Oncology Drug Target Engagement in Human Plucked Scalp and Beard Hair

April 2023 in “ Cancer Research ”

Greg Tudor, Frida Ponthan, Adam Boanas, Aude-Marine Bonavita, Catherine Booth

scalp hair beard hair biomarker pharmacodynamic response Gemcitabine Tarceva Carboplatin p-Chk1 p-ERK1/2 g-H2AX scalp beard drug response chemotherapy Erlotinib

TLDR Plucked hair can effectively monitor drug effects in cancer treatment.

The study presents a method for evaluating drug target engagement in oncology using plucked human scalp and beard hair as a surrogate biomarker tissue. This minimally invasive approach allows for frequent sampling and provides proof of concept data before clinical trials. The research demonstrated that plucked hair can effectively measure pharmacodynamic responses to chemotherapeutic agents, such as Gemcitabine, Tarceva, and Carboplatin, by analyzing changes in specific biomarkers like p-Chk1, p-ERK1/2, and g-H2AX. The findings suggest that plucked hair is a valuable tool for monitoring drug effects and optimizing clinical study designs.

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