Cambridge, UK: 16 November 2015. 14M Genomics (“14MG”) and The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (“EORTC”) today announce the delivery of initial genomic mutation analyses conducted on newly diagnosed cancer patients as part of the EORTC Screening Patients for Efficient Clinical Trial Access (SPECTA) programme.
The first SPECTA project, SPECTAcolor, focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer. Following its launch in 2013, it has been implemented in over 30 clinical centres in 11 European countries, with nearly 800 patients recruited. Clinical samples from many of these patients have now been analysed across hundreds of genomic regions using a sophisticated proprietary analytical and annotation pipeline (GABRIEL™) developed by 14MG. This tool rapidly and reproducibly processes cancer genomic data to generate patient-specific tumour genomic profiles. These results have been reported directly back to the participating physicians through the company’s customised web-based portal (RAPHAEL™), which can guide enrolment of patients into biomarker-led clinical trials.
Linkage of these genomic profiles to disease progression and therapeutic response will form a valuable and growing reference resource to develop and guide optimal therapy for future cancer patients.
The EORTC aims to improve the standard of cancer treatment through the testing of more effective therapeutic strategies based on drugs, surgery and/or radiotherapy that are already in use. It also contributes to the development of new drugs and diagnostic tests in partnership with the pharmaceutical and the diagnostic industry. The collaboration with 14MG will now allow information on the genetic make-up of patients’ tumours to be provided directly to participating oncologists, enabling rapid identification of treatment options and enrolment of patients into suitable clinical studies.
Alan Schafer, Chief Executive of 14MG, said, “We are delighted to announce delivery of the first patient tumour genomic profiles in our collaboration with the EORTC, its clinical centres and investigators. These profiles have been successfully delivered through our proprietary analytical and reporting pipeline, comprising the linked GABRIEL™ and RAPHAEL™ components, and demonstrate a critical step forward in allowing personalised patient tumour assessment, and enrolment into clinical trials that are most appropriate for their profile.”
Dr Vassilis Golfinopoulos, Medical Director of the EORTC, said, “We are excited that our collaboration with 14MG has led to the successful generation of genomic data through application of the company’s state-of-the-art sequencing and analytical technologies. As we expand our SPECTA programme, starting with SPECTAlung, specialising in thoracic tumours, and SPECTAbrain, for patients with tumours arising in the central nervous system, we look forward to a continued collaboration with 14MG on genomic profiling of these patients in readiness for clinical trial enrolment.”
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