Genomics in Cancer: Con.nuing to Push the Leading Edge
Hannes Smarason Genome Sequencing |Personalized Medicine | Transforming Health Care
Genomic Knowledge Drives BeAer Care in Oncology • Genomics con6nues to make impressive progress in helping to prevent
and treat cancer, driving pa6ent care and improving outcomes across an ever-‐expanding number of cancers.
• Genomics helps a growing number of oncologists: – BeEer understand the gene6cs of a pa6ent’s tumor; and – BeEer understand how cancerous tumors grow and spread over 6me.
• Armed with genomic knowledge, oncologists can tailor an6-‐cancer treatments to a tumor’s muta6ons, targe6ng the cancer’s Achilles heel. Well-‐documented successes include cancer drugs that target certain genes – HER2, EFG, ALK, and others.
• We see great strides in the applica6on of genomics to cancer care on four major fronts: in leading medical centers, in approaches to different types of cancer, in cancer preven6on, and in clinical trials.
The Applica.on of Genomics to Cancer Care: Part One
• Evolving from ‘why’ to ‘how’ at leading cancer centers. • Leading medical facili6es demonstrate the value of genomics through
accelera6ng use and deployment to advance beEer care for cancer pa6ents.
• At top cancer care facili6es, genomics has become an integral part of the programma6c approach to provide cancer pa6ents with op6mal care in pursuit of the best outcomes. – The ques6on for leading medical centers globally used to be “Do we need genomics?” – The ques6on now is “For which cancer types and at what stages of cancer diagnosis and
treatment can we best use genomic sequencing and analysis?” • This is an evolu6on from “Why?” to “How?”
at a very fundamental level.
The Applica.on of Genomics to Cancer Care: Part Two • Expanding the applica=on of genomics to different
types of cancers. • Researchers and clinicians con6nue to publish a wealth
of informa6on valida6ng the poten6al of genomics to improve outcomes in diverse types of cancer pa6ents.
• In 2015 alone, highlights of these advancements include:
– Certain prostate cancers; – Brain cancers; – Rare types of pediatric kidney cancers; and – Promising targets in certain non-‐small cell lung cancers.
The Applica.on of Genomics to Cancer Care: Part Three
• Broadening acceptance in cancer preven=on.
• People around the world are seeking and benefi6ng from gene6c tests that reveal their personal risk for certain tumors (such as BRCA for breast or ovarian cancers), aided by: – The expanding educa6on of oncologists and physicians; and – The empowerment of knowledgeable pa6ents.
• For pa6ents who may be at high risk for certain cancers, genomic analysis – by comparing an individual’s genome with databases of confirmed gene6c muta6ons linked to disease – guides appropriate medical decisions.
The Applica.on of Genomics to Cancer Care: Part Four • Powering clinical trials with genomics. • Researchers are using genomics in clinical trials to deepen analysis of the safety and
efficacy of drugs in cancer and beyond. Genomics is an increasingly integral part of data gathering and inves6ga6on and is, in some cases, used to screen pa6ents for appropriate trials.
• In 2015, two large-‐scale cancer trials began with the bold goal of substan6ally advancing the use of genomics in cancer care: – TAPUR (Targeted Agent and Profiling U6liza6on Registry), an American Society of Clinical
Oncology (ASCO)-‐sponsored study; and – NCI-‐MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice), a Na6onal Cancer Ins6tute (NCI)-‐
sponsored study. • Both trials selected an6-‐cancer treatments for a specific molecular target,
independent of tumor loca6on and histology. • These and similar trials will doubtless provide insighdul informa6on to drive the
growing use of genomics in improving cancer care.
Genomics Con.nuing to Improve Cancer Care • Genomics is helping to prevent and treat cancer at an accelera6ng rate,
suppor6ng the goal of oncologists to drama6cally improve pa6ent outcomes.
• In at least four fron6ers we are seeing substan6al progress in the use of genomics in cancer care, including: – Expanding use in leading medical centers; – Increasing applica6ons within cancer; – Broadening acceptance in cancer preven6on; and – Developing use in clinical trials.
• I am personally commiEed to accelera6ng this genomic revolu6on to drive true progress in improving cancer care for pa6ents in need globally.
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