intoDNA to Reveal Novel DNA Damage Insights at Premier Cancer Meeting

KRAKÓW, Poland – March 31, 2026 – As the global oncology community prepares to gather in San Diego, Kraków-based precision medicine company intoDNA is poised to present groundbreaking research that could refine how new cancer drugs are developed and how patients are selected for treatment. The company announced it will deliver two key poster presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in April, showcasing novel methods for directly measuring the intricate processes of DNA damage and repair.

The presentations will feature intoDNA's patented STRIDE® platform, a technology designed to provide unprecedented visibility into the cellular battleground where many cancer therapies either succeed or fail. The first presentation, scheduled for April 20, will detail a direct measurement of Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) activity. The second, part of a late-breaking research session on April 22, will focus on the in-situ measurement of PARP1 activity and its 'trapping' at sites of DNA damage—a critical mechanism for a successful class of cancer drugs.

The Significance of the AACR Stage

Presenting at the AACR Annual Meeting is a significant milestone for any organization in the cancer space. Widely regarded as one of the world's most important oncology conferences, the event regularly draws over 20,000 scientists, clinicians, and industry leaders. It serves as a global forum for unveiling cutting-edge science that spans the entire spectrum of cancer research, from basic biology to practice-changing clinical trial results. For a company like intoDNA, this platform offers a crucial opportunity to introduce its technology to the key researchers and pharmaceutical partners who can help translate its potential into clinical reality.

Poster sessions at AACR are not mere footnotes; they are interactive forums where the intricate details of novel science are scrutinized and discussed by experts. The acceptance of intoDNA's research, particularly a presentation in a 'Late-Breaking Research' session, signals a high level of interest from the scientific community in the company's innovative approach to visualizing one of cancer's fundamental vulnerabilities.

A Closer Look at Cancer's Achilles' Heel

At the heart of intoDNA's work is the DNA Damage and Repair (DDR) system, a network of cellular pathways responsible for maintaining genomic integrity. Cancer cells are often characterized by defects in these pathways, a weakness that can be exploited therapeutically. Two such pathways, NER and PARP1-mediated repair, are central to intoDNA's upcoming presentations and represent major areas of focus in modern oncology.

Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) is the cell's primary mechanism for removing bulky DNA damage, such as lesions caused by platinum-based chemotherapies like cisplatin. An overactive NER pathway can allow a tumor to efficiently repair the damage inflicted by chemotherapy, leading to treatment resistance. Conversely, deficiencies in NER can make cancer cells highly sensitive to these drugs. The ability to accurately measure NER activity could therefore become a powerful predictive biomarker, helping oncologists determine which patients are most likely to respond to a given therapy.

Meanwhile, PARP1 is a key enzyme that rushes to repair single-strand DNA breaks. A class of drugs known as PARP inhibitors capitalizes on this function through a concept called 'synthetic lethality.' In tumors with pre-existing defects in repairing more complex double-strand breaks (such as those with BRCA1/2 mutations), inhibiting PARP1 leads to an accumulation of damage that becomes lethal to the cancer cell. Measuring PARP1 activity and the degree to which inhibitors 'trap' the enzyme on DNA provides direct pharmacodynamic evidence of whether a drug is hitting its target effectively.

Revolutionizing Measurement with STRIDE®

For years, researchers have relied on indirect methods to assess DNA damage, such as staining for proteins that accumulate near a break site. However, these methods can lack sensitivity and may not reflect the actual state of the DNA itself. intoDNA's STRIDE® (SensiTive Recognition of Individual DNA Ends) platform was developed to overcome these limitations by directly labeling and quantifying the DNA breaks themselves at a single-cell resolution.

This fluorescence-based technology can be applied directly to fixed cells and even to clinical tissue samples, such as formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) biopsies, which are standard in pathology labs. By pairing high-resolution 3D imaging with advanced AI-driven analysis, the platform provides objective, quantitative data on the extent of DNA damage. Its key differentiator is its ability to offer a direct readout of DNA breaks, independent of the cell's repair processes. This makes it an ideal tool for studying the precise mechanism of action of DDR inhibitors.

The company has developed specific assays on this platform, such as sSTRIDE-NER, to measure the functional engagement of specific repair pathways. This moves beyond simply detecting the presence of a repair protein to asking a more important question: is the pathway actually working? This level of functional insight is critical for developing the next generation of predictive biomarkers.

Accelerating Drug Development and Precision Medicine

The implications of this technology for biopharmaceutical companies are profound. Developing new cancer drugs is a long, expensive, and high-risk endeavor. Tools that provide early, accurate insights can de-risk and accelerate this process. By offering 'decision-grade insights,' the STRIDE® platform can help drug developers confirm a compound's mechanism of action, determine effective dosing, and identify the patient populations most likely to benefit, even in early preclinical stages.

This capability is crucial for biomarker development. The success of targeted therapies and immunotherapies hinges on matching the right drug to the right patient. STRIDE®'s functional assays have the potential to become robust companion diagnostics that guide treatment decisions in the clinic. The platform has already been used in collaborations with major pharmaceutical players like AstraZeneca to gain deeper insights into the effects of their therapeutic agents, demonstrating its value in an industry setting.

By providing clear pharmacodynamic readouts, the technology can help explain why some patients respond to a drug while others do not, paving the way for more effective combination strategies and helping to overcome the pervasive challenge of acquired drug resistance. This aligns perfectly with the broader industry shift towards a more personalized approach to cancer care, where treatment is tailored to the specific molecular characteristics of a patient's tumor.

From the Lab to the Clinic: The Promise for Patients

Ultimately, the value of any new medical technology is measured by its impact on patients. While intoDNA's platform is currently a research and development tool, its potential clinical applications represent a significant step forward for personalized oncology. For patients, this could mean a future where treatment decisions are based on a functional understanding of their tumor's unique biology.

By accurately predicting which therapies will be effective, clinicians could spare patients from the toxicity and cost of treatments that are unlikely to work. Monitoring DNA damage levels during a course of therapy could also provide an early indication of treatment response, allowing for rapid adjustments to a patient's regimen. This precision promises not only to improve survival rates but also to enhance the quality of life for individuals undergoing cancer treatment.

As intoDNA prepares to share its latest findings with the world's leading cancer experts, its work highlights a critical evolution in oncology: moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to a future where therapy is truly and precisely individualized based on the deepest vulnerabilities of each patient's cancer.