Two Presented Posters Validate Clinical Utility of Molecular Profiling in Guiding Targeted Cancer Treatment
IRVING, TX, April 8, 2011 — Caris Life Sciences, Inc., a leading biosciences company focused on enabling precise and personalized healthcare through the highest quality anatomic pathology, molecular profiling, and blood-based diagnostic services, this week presented clinical data that validated the potential diagnostic impact of new biomarker profiles in combating breast cancer. These findings further support the diagnostic value of personalizing cancer treatment based on a tumor’s unique genetic make-up. The data was derived by profiling cancer patients through the Caris Target Now™ evidence-based molecular profiling service, which examines a patient’s tumor and provides a customized tumor-specific biomarker analysis, which is then matched with treatment guidance published by the world’s most respected cancer researchers.
A summary of each AACR poster presented follows:
“Correlation of HER2 expression by IHC, DNA microarray, and FISH in breast cancer,” highlighted that protein expression by IHC is the most robust and cost effective way to test for HER2 expression when performed per ASCO/CAP guidelines and correlates well with gene amplification by FISH. The study also showed that equivocal HER2 results either by IHC or FISH cannot be resolved by microarray analysis due to poor inter-assay agreement. HER2 over-expression occurs in approximately 15-20% of patients with breast cancer and is associated with aggressive disease and decreased survival.
“Distribution of hormone receptors (Estrogen Receptor, Progesterone Receptor and Androgen Receptor) in epithelial malignancies,” concluded that hormone receptors are frequently expressed in cancer types outside of breast, which merits the inclusion of therapeutic strategies using hormone therapy in these tumors. The frequency of hormone receptor expression in both expected and unexpected tumor types might be useful in evaluating new therapies, determining prognosis and assessing the outcome of patients on endocrine therapy.
“The Caris Target Now molecular profiling service commits extraordinary resources to advancing the current understanding of various biomarkers and the potential role of molecular diagnostics in cancer therapy,” said Raheela Ashfaq, MD, medical director of oncologic pathology and the lead author of the two studies. “This effort is critical to providing the most relevant and impactful information for physicians and patients in selecting the most effective cancer therapies. To that end, we are confident that the findings we presented at the recently-concluded AACR conference will provide new therapeutic options for treating aggressive forms of cancer.”
The Caris Target Now molecular profiling service matches information from the individual tumor’s genetic profile with data included in the nearly 100,000 published clinical studies reviewed by Caris’ evidence team. Caris Target Now then provides a simple report indicating which available chemo, biologic, and hormone therapies are most likely to be effective and those that are likely to be ineffective. Caris Target Now emerged last year as the world’s most comprehensive and actionable tumor profiling service, with nearly 20,000 patients profiled to date.
About Caris Life Sciences
Caris Life Sciences, a leading biosciences company, specializes in the development and commercialization of the highest quality anatomic pathology, molecular profiling, and blood-based diagnostic technologies, in the fields of oncology, dermatopathology, hematopathology, gastrointestinal pathology and urologic pathology. The company provides academic-caliber consultations for thousands of patients a day, through its industry-leading team of expert, subspecialty pathologists. Caris also offers advanced molecular analyses of patient samples through prognostic testing services and genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic profiling to assist physicians in their treatment of cancer. Currently, Caris is developing a series of blood tests utilizing the patented Carisome™ platform — a proprietary, blood-based testing technology for diagnosis, prognosis, and theranosis of cancer and other complex diseases. The company is headquartered in the Dallas metroplex, and operates laboratories at the headquarters, as well as in the Phoenix and Boston metro areas.
CONTACT: Caris Life Sciences
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