Abstract 4031: Project Cure CRC: advancing precision medicine in colorectal cancer through innovative research and targeted therapies

Abstract Background: The Colorectal Cancer Alliance founded Project Cure CRC to support breakthrough research in colorectal cancer (CRC) and advance precision medicine to improve patient outcomes. CRC remains one of the most common and deadly cancers, with over 1.9 million new cases and 935,000 deaths annually. A significant challenge in CRC treatment is the genetic variability among patients, leading to different responses to standard therapies and highlighting the need for personalized approaches. Many CRC cases involve mutations that resist conventional treatments, resulting in poor prognosis and limited options for affected patients. Methods: Project Cure CRC launched a targeted Request for Proposals (RFP) to address these challenges based on insights from last year’s Cure CRC Summit. The RFP attracted 250 proposals centered on novel precision medicine strategies, and nearly $7 million in funding has been allocated to support 18 high-impact research projects. Results: Funded projects employ diverse and innovative strategies to tackle CRC. Critical approaches include enhancing intratumoral mRNA vaccines that target immune checkpoints to boost anti-tumor responses and combining targeted radiation with immunotherapies to create synergistic effects in advanced CRC. Additional studies focus on new drug combinations for BRAF-mutated CRC, which has low response rates to existing treatments. Other projects investigate ProAgio, a protein targeting cells that support cancer survival, with the potential to improve therapies for hard-to-treat tumors. Further research examines how fat tissue influences CRC growth and metastasis, particularly in patients with obesity, and leverages technology to target multiple genes simultaneously, identifying cancer cell vulnerabilities and enhancing immune response. The Alliance has also funded a theranostic project that is able to use the same drug molecule to determine the location of tumors and a target therapeutic approach, and the development of a drug pipeline platform that will accelerate the development of new targets and therapies. Conclusions: These initiatives demonstrate the Alliance’s commitment to advancing precision medicine and addressing key gaps in CRC care, particularly for patients with treatment-resistant profiles. By funding high-impact research and fostering collaboration, Project Cure CRC aims to accelerate the development of personalized, effective treatments for CRC patients, transforming the landscape of colorectal cancer care. Citation Format: Kimberly Lynn Newcomer, David Fenstermacher. Project Cure CRC: advancing precision medicine in colorectal cancer through innovative research and targeted therapies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 4031.