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news.Life Technologies has established a new Genomic Cancer Care Alliance, in association with Fox Chase Cancer Center, Scripps Genomic Medicine and Translational Genomics Research Institute (Tgen) to help the people battling with cancer gain access to treatment options found through analysis of their genomic information.
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Life Technologies said that the pilot study builds upon a research trial announced earlier this year in association with TGen and US Oncology, to sequence the genomes of 14 patients diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer whose tumors have progressed despite multiple other therapies.
The alliance expects the study to commence enrolling patients late this year and it is likely to focus on advanced cancer patients who have failed initial rounds of therapy.
Reportedly, US Oncology is expected to serve as the contract research and site management organization for a pilot study that would be initiated by the alliance. The planned study will be aimed at determining whether whole-genome sequencing can better guide treatment decisions across a number of difficult-to-treat cancers.
As currently envisioned, patients enrolled in the study will have both tumor and normal tissue sequenced by TGen, Scripps, and other organizations, using Life Technologies’ Applied Biosystems SOLiD System to identify mutations.
Upon completion of the study, the results will be validated by a CLIA-certified lab and interpreted by TGen and Omicia. A centralized tumor board for the study, composed of physicians from Fox Chase Cancer Center, TGen, Scripps and El Camino Hospital’s Genomic Medicine Institute, will study the results and consult with patients’ oncologists regarding how to use the test results to develop personalized care plans.
Paul Billings, the alliance’s chief medical officer, who currently serves as director and chief scientific officer of the Genomic Medicine Institute at El Camino Hospital, said: “This is a groundbreaking initiative for oncologists and their patients that should demonstrate how whole-genome sequencing with analytics and counseling can identify a treatment plan customized specifically for each seriously ill patient. There is an urgent need to define and validate a complete medical workflow for genomic-based cancer care.”
Gregory Lucier, chairman and CEO of Life Technologies, said: “We strongly believe that genome sequencing will allow physicians to treat their patients not just based on the type of cancer they have, but on the biological pathways that led to mutations, which ultimately resulted in the development of cancer. We look forward to exploring how sequencing can provide the medical community with more specific, accurate data that can help guide cancer treatment options.”