St. Jude Medical Center’s Crosson Cancer Institute Joins Elite Group of Academic, Hospital and Community-Based Cancer Centers to Broaden Patient Access and Improve Outcomes with Tumor Profiling
IRVING, Texas, October 11, 2017 – Caris Life Sciences®, a leading innovator in molecular science focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine, today announced that St. Jude Medical Center’s Crosson Cancer Institute has joined Caris’ Precision Oncology Alliance™ (POA) as its 17th member. Through participation with other leading cancer centers, the St. Jude Crosson Cancer Institute will help develop standards of care and best practices to advance the use of tumor profiling, making cancer treatment more precise and effective.
“The St. Jude Crosson Cancer Institute has a long history of high-quality, innovative cancer care in Southern California and we look forward to the impact and contributions they will make to the field of precision medicine and this important alliance,” said John Marshall, M.D., Director of the Otto J. Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancer at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and Chief of the Division of Hematology-Oncology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and Chairman of the POA Executive Committee.
The POA, which now consists of 17 academic, hospital and community-based cancer institutions including five NCI-Designated Cancer Centers, is broadening patient access to precision medicine tools and establishing evidence-based standards for tumor profiling and molecular testing in oncology. The POA, including St. Jude, will leverage Caris’ comprehensive genomic profiling plus (CGP+) tumor profiling service, Caris Molecular Intelligence®, to identify therapy options and clinical trial opportunities based on the unique molecular characteristics of a patient’s tumor.
“Cancer treatment has made tremendous strides in recent years and with molecular profiling we’ll continue to see dramatic new advances,” said David Park, M.D., Medical Director, St. Jude Crosson Cancer Institute. “Tumor profiling enables us to attack the tumor based on its molecular blueprint rather than its site of origin, which has demonstrated the ability to improve clinical outcomes. We look forward to working with Caris Life Sciences and the other alliance members in moving this approach forward.”
Caris Molecular Intelligence assesses DNA, RNA and proteins to reveal a molecular profile to guide more precise and individualized treatment decisions. Based on the unique molecular characteristics of an individual patient’s cancer, the results help inform treatment decisions by identifying therapies that have the potential to be most effective and to rule out those that are less likely to work.
About Caris Life Sciences®
Caris Life Sciences® is a leading innovator in molecular science focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine through quality and innovation. Caris Molecular Intelligence®, the company’s Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Plus (CGP+) molecular testing service and the world’s leading immunotherapy diagnostic expert, assesses DNA, RNA and proteins, including microsatellite instability (MSI), total mutational load (TML) and PD-L1, to reveal a molecular blueprint to guide more precise and personalized treatment decisions. The ADAPT Biotargeting System™, the company’s revolutionary and unbiased profiling platform, is currently being utilized for drug target identification, therapeutic discovery and development, fixed tissue-based companion diagnostics, blood-based cancer screening and biomarker identification. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Caris Life Sciences offers services throughout the U.S., Europe and other international markets. To learn more, please visit www.CarisLifeSciences.com.
About the Precision Oncology Alliance™
The Precision Oncology Alliance (POA) was established by Caris Life Sciences to promote the study and appropriate use of molecular testing in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The POA consists of 17 leading cancer centers, including 5 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers, that have demonstrated a commitment to precision medicine and work collaboratively toward a common goal: to advance tumor profiling and establish standards of care for molecular testing in oncology. The POA has produced more than five peer-reviewed manuscripts and presented over 40 posters at industry conferences.
About the St. Jude Medical Center’s Crosson Cancer Institute
Recognized by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer and named one of America’s Best Hospital’s for cancer care by the Women’s Choice Award, St. Jude Crosson Cancer Institute brings together the expertise of numerous disciplines and specialized centers of care, including: Kathryn T. McCarty Breast Center, Virginia K. Crosson Cancer Center, Fred A. Jordan Family Radiation Oncology Center, St. Jude Center for Thoracic and Esophageal Diseases, St. Jude Center for Digestive Diseases, Knott Family Endoscopy Center and St. Jude Heritage Medical Group, Oncology and Hematology. The St. Jude Crosson Cancer Institute is one of the specialty and tertiary centers of excellence at St. Jude Medical Center, a faith-based, non-profit hospital in Fullerton, California. Established 60 years ago by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, the Magnet-designated hospital has earned a reputation for clinical excellence and nationally-recognized programs, including being named one of California’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
Media Inquiries:
The Ruth Group
Kirsten Thomas / Joanna Zimmerman
kthomas@theruthgroup.com / jzimmerman@theruthgroup.com
Tel: +1-508-280-6592 / +1-646-536-7006
St. Jude Medical Center, St. Jude Crosson Cancer Institute
Dru Ann Copping
druann.copping@stjoe.org
714-732-2012