Alice Bernard-Tessier

Medical Oncologist

Genitourinary Oncology

Gustave Roussy

Location France, Villejuif

Linkedin

Dr. Alice Bernard-Tessier is a Medical Oncologist specializing in genitourinary malignancies and early drug development. She is currently a Medical Oncologist in the Genitourinary Oncology Group at the Cancer Medicine Department of Gustave Roussy Institute, University of Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France. Her work focuses on precision oncology in prostate cancer, targeted radionuclide therapy, androgen receptor pathway inhibition, and translational biomarker research. She is the recipient of the 2025 Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award and the 2023 Conquer Cancer Merit Award from ASCO.

Current Position

  • Medical Oncologist, Genitourinary Oncology Group, Cancer Medicine Department, Gustave Roussy Institute, University of Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
  • PhD Candidate, UMR981 Molecular Predictors and New Targets in Oncology, Paris Saclay University (ED CBMS 582)

Education

  • PhD Candidate in Oncology, UMR981 Molecular Predictors and New Targets in Oncology, Paris Saclay University
  • Medical Degree with Specialization in Medical Oncology, University of Paris Cité
  • Master of Science in Oncology, University of Paris Saclay, conducted at the Circulating Cancer Biomarkers Lab, Institut Curie
  • University Degree in Immunologic Therapies, University of Paris Descartes

Professional Experience

  • Medical Oncologist, Genitourinary Oncology Group, Cancer Medicine Department, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
  • Research Fellow and Visiting Scientist, Himisha Beltran’s Lab, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA, while concurrently serving as Research Associate and Medical Oncologist in the Genitourinary Oncology Group, Cancer Medicine Department, Gustave Roussy
  • Assistant Professor in Medical Oncology, Cancer Medicine Department, Gustave Roussy, where she practiced as a Medical Oncologist in both the Genitourinary Oncology Group and the Early Drug Development Department (DITEP)
  • Chief Resident, Early Drug Development Department (DITEP), Gustave Roussy, with clinical activity in Genitourinary Oncology
  • Internship, Residency, and Fellowship in Medical Oncology, Hospitals of Paris Cité University

Research Activity

  • Clinical practice encompasses approximately 1,050 genitourinary oncology consultations per year (2023–2024), including referral and second-opinion cases, with expertise in precision oncology and clinical trial orientation across phases I–III.
  • Principal or co-investigator in 28 clinical trials (COMETH repository, Gustave Roussy, 2024), with GCP E6(R2) training completed in 2025.
  • Translational research at the Circulating Tumor Biomarkers Laboratory, Institut Curie, focused on evaluating the clinical validity of circulating HPV tumor DNA as a biomarker.
  • Research at Himisha Beltran’s Laboratory, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, investigating DNA-PK inhibition to enhance ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA efficacy, characterizing intratumoral PSMA heterogeneity and its impact on therapeutic response, and identifying cell surface antigen biomarkers in circulating tumor cells for patient selection.
  • Research at UMR981, Paris Saclay University, focused on deciphering resistance mechanisms to PARP inhibitors through circulating tumor DNA analyses.
  • Active involvement in early drug development targeting the androgen receptor pathway and immune-oncology approaches, including T-cell engager agents, serving as a key clinical interface between DITEP and the Department of Medical Oncology.
  • Specific expertise in targeted radionuclide therapy, notably Lu-PSMA, in advanced prostate cancer.

Academic Impact

  • H-index: 18
  • i10-index: 23
  • Medline-indexed publications: 32
  • Guest Editor, Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology
  • Peer reviewer for Lancet Oncology, Annals of Oncology, NPJ Precision Oncology, European Urology Focus, and European Urology Open Science
  • Teaching activity spanning residents, medical students, university degree programs (DU clinical oncology, DIU genitourinary oncology, DIU molecular medicine in oncology, DIU nephro-oncology), master’s programs in biology and oncology, nurse practitioner training (Master IPA), medical school curricula at Paris Saclay University, and industry masterclasses in genitourinary oncology (Bayer, Astellas)
  • Invited speaker at international scientific congresses including ASCO GU (2023), ESMO (2023, 2025), ESMO IO (2023), and CFU (2022, 2023)
  • EAU UROwebinar lecturer on ARPI resistance mechanisms in mCRPC (2026) and biomarkers in prostate cancer precision medicine (2025)

Memberships / Honors / Awards

  • Prostate Faculty Group Member, ESMO (2026–2030)
  • Track Member, Prostate Cancer – Metastatic, European Multidisciplinary Congress on Urological Cancers (EMUC)
  • Member, French Groupe d’Étude des Tumeurs Urogénitales (GETUG)
  • Member, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
  • Member, European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)
  • Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award (2025)
  • PHRC-K Grant Recipient (2025)
  • Bourse d’Aide à la Mobilité, Institut Servier (2024)
  • Conquer Cancer Merit Award, ASCO (2023)
  • 2nd Prize, F.O.R.C.E Clinical Research Training Program for Young Oncologists (2017)
  • ARC (French Cancer Research Association) Grant Recipient (2018)

Areas of Specialization

  • Genitourinary oncology, with a focus on prostate cancer (metastatic castration-sensitive and castration-resistant disease)
  • Androgen receptor pathway inhibition and resistance mechanisms
  • Targeted radionuclide therapy, including Lu-PSMA
  • Early drug development and phase I–III clinical trials
  • Precision oncology and liquid biopsy / circulating tumor DNA biomarkers
  • Bispecific T-cell engager agents and immuno-oncology
  • PARP inhibitors and DNA damage repair in prostate cancer
  • HPV circulating tumor DNA in anal and cervical cancers
  • Clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Publications

Bernard-Tessier A and Beltran H. Exploring the biology of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: on the road to precision medicine. J Clin Invest. 2026.
Bernard-Tessier A et al. The future of androgen receptor targeting in prostate cancer: third-generation inhibitors and beyond. Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2025.
Aldea M, Orillard E, Bernard-Tessier A et al. Activity of Platinum Monotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer and DNA Damage Repair Gene Alterations. JCO Precis Oncol. 2025.
Stein MN, Vinceneux A, Robbrecht D, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. Pasritamig, a First-in-Class, Bispecific T-Cell Engager Targeting Human Kallikrein 2, in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Phase I Study. J Clin Oncol. 2025.
Aggarwal R, Rottey S, Bernard-Tessier A et al. Safety and Efficacy of Tarlatamab in patients with Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer: Results from the Phase 1b DeLLpro-300 Study. Clin Cancer Res. 2025.
van Wilpe S, Taha T, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. Efficacy of Anti-PD-(L)1 Immunotherapy in Patients with DNA Mismatch Repair-deficient Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer. Eur Urol Oncol. 2025.
Pal SK, Bernard-Tessier A et al. A Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of the HIF-2 Alpha Inhibitor DFF332 in Patients with Advanced Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2025.
Roubaud G, Kostine M, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. Assessment of bone mineral density in men with de novo metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer treated with or without abiraterone acetate plus prednisone in the PEACE-1 phase 3 trial. Eur J Cancer. 2025.
Dawi L, Belkouchi Y, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. Liquid Biopsy versus CT: Comparison of Tumor Burden Quantification in 1065 Patients with Metastases. Radiology. 2024.
Flippot R, Telli T, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. Activity of Lutetium-177 PSMA and Determinants of Outcomes in Patients with Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Previously Treated with Cabazitaxel: The PACAP Study. Eur Urol Oncol. 2024.
Bigot L, Sabio J, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. Development of Novel Models of Aggressive Variants of Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer. Eur Urol Oncol. 2024.
Mathiot L, Baldini C, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. Exploring the Role of Target Expression in Treatment Efficacy of Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Solid Cancers: A Comprehensive Review. Curr Oncol Rep. 2024.
Fizazi K, Bernard-Tessier A et al. Targeted Inhibition of CYP11A1 in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. NEJM Evidence. 2024.
Dorff T, Horvath LG, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. A phase 1 study of acapatamab, a half-life extended, PSMA-targeting bispecific T-cell engager for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2024.
Bayle A, Belcaid L, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. Clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA sequencing with a large panel: a National Center for Precision Medicine (PRISM) study. Ann Oncol. 2023.
Menssouri N, Poiraudeau L, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. Genomic Profiling of Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Samples Resistant to Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitors. Clin Cancer Res. 2023.
Fahrner JE, Lahmar I, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. The Polarity and Specificity of Antiviral T Lymphocyte Responses Determine Susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Patients with Cancer and Healthy Individuals. Cancer Discov. 2022.
Pierre T, Selhane F, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. The Role of CT in the Staging and Follow-Up of Testicular Tumors. Cancers (Basel). 2022.
Ouali K, Mateus C, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. PALLIA 10 score in phase I cancer studies. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2022.
Flippot R, Patrikidou A, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. PARP Inhibition, a New Therapeutic Avenue in Patients with Prostate Cancer. Drugs. 2022.
Guiard E, Baldini C, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. Radiological patterns of tumour progression in patients treated with a combination of immune checkpoint blockers and antiangiogenic drugs. Eur J Cancer. 2022.
Torregrosa C, Pernot S, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab or aflibercept after FOLFOX-bevacizumab failure for colorectal cancer (BEFLICO): An AGEO multicenter study. Int J Cancer. 2022.
Bernard-Tessier A et al. Patterns of progression in patients treated with immuno-oncology antibody combinations. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2021.
Cabel L, Bonneau C, Bernard-Tessier A et al. HPV ctDNA detection of high-risk HPV types during chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer. ESMO Open. 2021.
Darrigues L, Pierga JY, Bernard-Tessier A et al. Circulating tumor DNA as a dynamic biomarker of response to palbociclib and fulvestrant in metastatic breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res. 2021.
Cabel L, Jeannot E, … Bernard-Tessier A et al. Prognostic Impact of Residual HPV ctDNA Detection after Chemoradiotherapy for Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2018.
Bernard-Tessier A et al. Clinical Validity of HPV Circulating Tumor DNA in Advanced Anal Carcinoma: An Ancillary Study to the Epitopes-HPV02 Trial. Clin Cancer Res. 2019.
Bernard-Tessier A et al. Outcomes of long-term responders to anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 when rechallenged at progression. Eur J Cancer. 2018.
Bernard-Tessier A et al. Atezolizumab: Activity, indication and modality of use in advanced or metastatic urinary bladder carcinoma. Bull Cancer. 2018.
Bernard-Tessier A et al. Immune-related eosinophilia induced by anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 antibodies. Eur J Cancer. 2017.