New Genomic Cancer Care Alliance formed

June 3, 2010

By hammersmith

[Source: Earth Times] – Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) today announced the creation of the Genomic Cancer Care Alliance to help people battling cancer gain access to treatment options found through analysis of their genomic information. Founding partners include Fox Chase Cancer Center, Scripps Genomic Medicine, and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).The announcement came during the Consumer Genetics Conference being held June 2-4 in Boston.

The Alliance will launch a pilot study aimed at determining whether whole-genome sequencing can better guide treatment decisions across a number of difficult-to-treat cancers. US Oncology, Inc., the nation’s leading integrated oncology company, is expected to serve as the contract research and site management organization for the study.

The study builds upon a research trial announced earlier this year by Life Technologies, 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. In contrast to the breast cancer trial, this study is the first one to evaluate the use of whole-genome sequencing information in guiding treatment decisions across a wide range of cancer types.

For more information: New Genomic Cancer Care Alliance Formed to Study Whole-Genome Sequencing in Cancer Treatment