Genprex Links TROP2 to Lung Cancer Gene Therapy

New preclinical and trial-sample research suggests TROP2 levels may predict which lung cancer patients respond to REQORSA.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Cancer

Close view of a clear glass vial of pale amber liquid on a laboratory bench beside unlabeled glass pipettes, under soft daylight. — Genprex says tumor levels of the TROP2 protein may help identify which lung cancer patients are most likely to respond to its REQORSA gene therapy, pending further validation. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Genprex has announced research identifying TROP2 as a potential predictive biomarker for response to its REQORSA gene therapy in non-small cell lung cancer. The findings will be presented at the 2026 EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium in Barcelona, Spain.

Why it matters

If confirmed, TROP2 could help identify patients most likely to benefit from REQORSA, potentially improving how clinical trials select participants. The work is preclinical and early, so its predictive value remains unproven in broader patient populations.

The research draws on preclinical models of non-small cell lung cancer and pretreatment biopsies from a REQORSA trial, with TUSC2 downregulated or absent in more than 80% of NSCLC cases. Laboratory studies at MD Anderson found TUSC2 uptake in tumor cells was 10 to 33 times that in normal cells, but the predictive value of TROP2 in larger populations remains unknown.

The players

Genprex, Inc.

Genprex is an Austin, Texas-based biotechnology company developing gene therapies, including REQORSA, for cancer treatment.

MD Anderson

MD Anderson is the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, a major cancer research and treatment institution that conducted the uptake laboratory studies.

The details

REQORSA is a plasmid carrying the TUSC2 gene, encapsulated in non-viral lipid-based nanoparticles and injected intravenously to target negatively charged cancer cells. Researchers found low TROP2 expression was consistently linked to resistance across multiple preclinical models and in trial biopsies, while REQORSA has shown activity in targeted-therapy- and immunotherapy-resistant models.

November 4, 2026: Genprex announces the TROP2 biomarker research.
November 18-20, 2026: The 2026 EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium is held in Barcelona, Spain.
November 18, 2026: Featured poster session runs from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. CET.

Biomarker Development

The TROP2 finding follows the Acclaim-1 and Acclaim-3 trials, which are evaluating REQORSA in non-small cell and small cell lung cancer. It proposes a way to refine patient selection within that clinical program.

For lung cancer patients, a validated biomarker could eventually help determine whether REQORSA is a suitable treatment option. The research is preclinical and early, so it does not change current treatment decisions for Austin residents or anyone else.

The takeaway

Biomarkers like TROP2 could help match cancer therapies to the patients most likely to respond, a goal that matters for future trial design. Readers should watch for confirmation in larger studies before drawing conclusions about REQORSA's use.

What happens next

Genprex plans to make the EORTC-NCI-AACR 2026 poster available on its website following the November 18 presentation, subject to conference disclosure requirements.