Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Illumina are Founding Members
Consortium Will Recommend Standards for Applying Next-Generation Sequencing to Cancer Tumors
BOSTON & SEATTLE & HOUSTON & NEW YORK & SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 8, 2014-- World-renowned cancer centers and Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) today announced the formation of the Actionable Genome Consortium (AGC), an effort to recommend openly published standards for the widespread use of next-generation sequencing to guide decision-making in clinical oncology. The core remit of the AGC is to define the principles and content of the “cancer actionable genome” — a comprehensive description of genomic alterations that define individual patients’ tumors. Once defined, the actionable genome will help oncologists and pathologists determine optimal therapeutic and testing strategies to improve patient outcomes.
Currently, the definition of what is actionable varies, and clinical interpretation of genomic tests is challenging even for experts. Further, the majority of patients lack access to multidisciplinary Tumor Boards, such as those at major cancer centers, which define what constitutes an actionable event in a tumor.
“Oncology is as ready as any area of medicine to see the genomic revolution become the core of medical practice. Advances made over the past several decades, including those in next-generation sequencing, have set the stage to re-think how cancer should be diagnosed, classified and treated,” said Charles Sawyers, M.D., chair of the Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. “Patients will be more likely to receive the proper targeted course of therapy from the outset when the community oncologist is aware of standard molecular testing procedures and how to interpret these test results.”
“It is clear that solutions to cancer lie with the combined resources of leading cancer research institutions. The AGC is an exciting model for bringing together shared discoveries and wisdom to benefit cancer patients,” said Gordon Mills, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Systems Biology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
“The AGC is paving the way to truly transform cancer care by enabling the combination of clinical and molecular data at an unprecedented scale. The AGC is part of a national effort to promote this transition and get it right," said Eric Holland, M.D., Ph.D., director of Solid Tumor Translational Research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
“Developing standards that will facilitate the use of genomics in personalized treatment is an exciting advancement that will lead to real benefits for patients,” said Barrett Rollins, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
The AGC has developed and will publish a list of actionable events, including recommendations for:
- best practices for biopsy, sample storage and transport, and extraction;
- technical performance standards for DNA sequencing;
- standards for variant calling, annotation and interpretation; and,
- guidelines for the format and content of clinical reports.
Once adopted into medical guidelines, the recommendations of the AGC will pave the way for the development of in vitro diagnostics, additional information to support regulatory oversight of genomic testing for cancer, and reimbursement of tests that will improve patient outcomes. Additionally, the AGC will include a research arm that will leverage the scientific, clinical and technical capabilities of the member institutions for novel collaborative, cross-institutional projects aimed at grand challenges in molecular oncology.
“The AGC represents an extraordinary gathering of experts and decision-makers in clinical and molecular oncology, pathology and technology who, by proposing the standards by which every tumor will be sequenced, will move the field of clinical oncology into the era of precision,” said Rick Klausner, M.D., former Director of the National Cancer Institute and current Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer at Illumina. “Widely available, standardized genomic testing of tumors can be the means by which precision oncology and therefore precision medicine begins to live up to its promise.”
About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is world-renowned for its leadership in adult and pediatric cancer treatment and research. Designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), it is one of the largest recipients among independent hospitals of NCI and National Institutes of Health grant funding. For more information, go to www.dana-farber.org.
About Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home to three Nobel laureates, interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists seek new and innovative ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. Fred Hutch’s pioneering work in bone marrow transplantation led to the development of immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of the immune system to treat cancer with minimal side effects. An independent, nonprofit research institute based in Seattle, Fred Hutch houses the nation’s first and largest cancer prevention research program, as well as the clinical coordinating center of the Women’s Health Initiative and the international headquarters of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. For more information visit www.fredhutch.org or follow Fred Hutch on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
About MD Anderson
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. MD Anderson is one of only 41 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). For the past 25 years, MD Anderson has ranked as one of the nation's top two cancer centers in U.S. News & World Report's annual "Best Hospitals" survey. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).
About Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan Kettering is the world’s oldest and largest private cancer center, home to more than 13,000 physicians, scientists, nurses, and staff united by a relentless dedication to conquering cancer. As an independent institution, Memorial Sloan Kettering combines 130 years of research and clinical leadership with the freedom to provide highly individualized, exceptional care to each patient. And its always-evolving educational programs continue to train new leaders in the field, here and around the world. For more information, go to www.mskcc.org.
About Illumina
Illumina (www.illumina.com) is a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of life science tools and integrated systems for the analysis of genetic variation and function. We provide innovative sequencing and array-based solutions for genotyping, copy number variation analysis, methylation studies, gene expression profiling, and low-multiplex analysis of DNA, RNA, and protein. We also provide tools and services that are fueling advances in consumer genomics and diagnostics. Our technology and products accelerate genetic analysis research and its application, paving the way for molecular medicine and ultimately transforming healthcare.
Source: Illumina
Dana-Farber:
Ellen Berlin, 617-632-4090
Ellen_Berlin@dfci.harvard.edu
or
Fred Hutchinson:
Michael Nank, 206-667-6906
mnank@fredhutch.org
or
MD Anderson:
Ron Gilmore, 713-745-1898
Rlgilmore1@mdanderson.org
or
Memorial Sloan Kettering:
Melissa Morgenweck, 212-639-3573
morgenwm@mskcc.org
or
Illumina, Inc.
Investors:
Rebecca Chambers, 858-255-5243
rchambers@illumina.com
or
Media:
Jennifer Temple, 858-882-6822
pr@illumina.com
