Tempus, a technology company focused on helping doctors personalize cancer care by collecting and analyzing large volumes of molecular and clinical data, has launched a new genomic sequencing panel, Tempus xE, which analyzes the whole exome in a CLIA/CAP validated assay. Tempus xE, unlike most commercial panels, includes sequencing the whole exome tumor DNA and a matched normal sample, along with the whole RNA transcriptome.
The Tempus xE assay offers a comprehensive survey of the patient’s entire coding genome. This empowers researchers and clinicians to analyze the whole exome to cast a wider net and identify genetic alterations and pathways that may not be identified using a more targeted panel.
“In order to truly explore what is possible in cancer care, at times we have to take an expansive look inside the individual genomics of a patient’s disease,” said Gary Palmer, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer at Tempus. “Tempus xE is an innovative tool that will guide researchers and clinicians interested in biomarker discovery and exploiting the latest, cutting-edge immunotherapies.”
The new panel is run in the company’s state-of-the-art next-generation, highly robotic sequencing lab. The assay detects single nucleotide variants, small insertions and deletions, copy number amplifications, and structural alterations that lead to gene fusions.
The test also powers one of the most comprehensive research immuno-oncology platforms on the market. The platform uses machine learning to reveal key decision drivers for immunotherapy including microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutational burden (TMB), neo-antigen load, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing. When paired with the whole transcriptome sequencing research component, the platform provides genetic and expression information for important targets such as PD-1, PD-L1, LAG3, TIM3 and CD40. Additionally, it provides a complete solution for adoptive T-cell and cancer vaccine research development.
“Every panel we bring to market offers new insights into cancer biology, and represents an exciting step forward for patients living with cancer nationwide,” said Eric Lefkofsky, founder and CEO of Tempus. “This panel is one of the first efforts to make clinical exome sequencing available to a broader population. Only with large amounts of data will we be able to unravel the answers that lie deep within our DNA.”
In oncology, and across healthcare more broadly, datasets have historically been small and disorganized. There are approximately 17 million Americans living with cancer in the U.S., but genomic material exists for less than one percent of all patients.
Tempus has built a series of data pipelines to collect, cleanse, and analyze clinical and molecular data in an effort to usher in precision medicine. Tempus xE joins an existing library of CLIA/CAP validated assays including xT, which analyzes 595 genes, and xO, which analyzes 1714 genes. The new Tempus xE assay will help expand the company’s capabilities across both clinical and research initiatives.
About Tempus
Tempus is a technology company that is building the world’s largest library of molecular and clinical data along with an operating system to make that data accessible and useful. We enable physicians to deliver personalized cancer 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 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 physicians with tools that learn as we gather more data. For more information, visit us at tempus.com.