Tempus, a leading technology company advancing precision medicine through the collection and analysis of molecular and clinical data and Mary Crowley Cancer Research have announced a new collaboration with the objective of expanding research options for lung cancer patients. As part of this collaboration, Tempus will become a preferred provider for Mary Crowley Cancer Research to perform molecular sequencing, analysis and provide clinical support for patients diagnosed with lung cancer.
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women in the United States. The five-year survival rate for lung cancer is 56 percent for cases detected when the disease is
localized within the lungs (Stage I and Stage II). However, only 43 percent of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at these disease stages, because signs and symptoms typically surface only after the disease has advanced.
“Lung cancer has historically been one of the most challenging cancers to treat, but as we learn more about the characteristics of patients who are diagnosed and show positive response to treatment, survival will be possible for people who would have been without options just a few years prior,” said Gary Palmer, Chief Medical Officer at Tempus.
“At Mary Crowley, it is routine to capture molecular sequencing on all patients and that information is used as a guide, to align patients to relevant therapies,” said Meghan Degele,
Director of Clinical Trial Development at Mary Crowley. “Unfortunately, a match is not always found, which leads providers to test for gene alterations specific to clinical trials. This process although key in personalizing and expanding cancer treatment options, is often lengthy and requires extra tissue.”
“We’re looking at this project as a more efficient way of finding the best fit for lung cancer patients, given our available studies” Says James Strauss, MD, Executive Scientific Director at Mary Crowley.”
The tumor specimens from patients at Mary Crowley will be sequenced using a Tempus CLIA/CAP comprehensive assay. Recognizing that fewer than 5% of adult cancer patients participate in cancer clinical trials, a subset of patients will also receive a series of research IHC stains along with Tempus xT testing. With this additional information, it may possibly accelerate clinical trial enrollment for waiting lung cancer patients, while also preserving tissue for future use.
About Tempus:
Tempus is a technology company that is building the world’s largest library of molecular and clinical data and an operating system to make that data accessible and useful. We enable physicians to deliver personalized care for patients through our interactive analytical and machine learning platform. We provide genomic sequencing services and analyze molecular and therapeutic data to empower physicians and researchers to make real-time, data-driven decisions. Our goal is for each patient to benefit from the treatment of others who came before by providing the health care industry with tools that learn as we gather more data. For more information, visit tempus.com.
About Mary Crowley Cancer Research:
Mary Crowley Cancer Research, headquartered in Dallas, TX, was founded in 1992 with the mission to expand treatment options for all cancer patients through the exploration of cellular, gene and immune therapies. The center is highly specialized in the conduction of early phase clinical trial testing and the personalized alignment of the patient’s specific cancer to the newest discoveries in genomic and immune therapies. Their ongoing objective is to offer these novel agents in innovative ways, thereby positively impacting the care of cancer patients and transforming their cancer into a manageable disease.