# Purity Independent Subtyping of Tumors (PurIST), a clinically robust, single-sample classifier for tumor subtyping in pancreatic cancer

Source: https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-rashid-purist-pancreatic-subtype-classifier-ccr-2020/  
OnCo record `paper-rashid-purist-pancreatic-subtype-classifier-ccr-2020` (Key paper). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Comparing the competing subtype schemes across trials and public data, this study found the two-type tumour-intrinsic scheme the most reproducible and built PurIST, a classifier that works on one biopsy at a time and relates to FOLFIRINOX response.

## Summary

Three major subtype classification schemas were assessed against results from two clinical trials and by meta-analysis of public expression data for robustness and clinical relevance. A tumour-intrinsic two-subtype schema was most robust, replicable and clinically relevant. A single-sample classifier, PurIST, was developed by penalised logistic regression, with replicable performance across platforms and sample types including low-input biopsies; PurIST subtypes associated with prognosis and with treatment response to FOLFIRINOX.

## Fields

- Kind: Key paper
- Last checked: 2026-09-24
- Journal: Clinical Cancer Research
- Year: 2020
- DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-1467
- Authors: Rashid NU, Peng XL, Jin C, et al.
- Findings: Two-subtype tumour-intrinsic schema most robust across datasets.; PurIST works on single low-input samples and associates with prognosis and FOLFIRINOX response.
- What it means: PurIST is the assay form of the Moffitt subtypes and the tool prospective subtype-stratified trials use.
- Caveats: Retrospective association with FOLFIRINOX response.; Subtype-discordant tumours (about 12%) remain hard to call.

## Sources

- Rashid et al., Clin Cancer Res 2020: PurIST single-sample classifier: https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-1467
- PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31754050/

## Connected records

- cancers: [Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/pancreatic/)
- technologies: [RNA sequencing & expression profiling](https://onco.cc/technologies/rna-seq/)
- drugs: [FOLFIRINOX / mFOLFIRINOX](https://onco.cc/drugs/folfirinox/)
- institutions: [UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center](https://onco.cc/institutions/unc-lineberger/)
- journals: [Clinical Cancer Research](https://onco.cc/journals/clinical-cancer-research/)

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