Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) and GenomOncology have announced an agreement for the exclusive commercial development of a decision support tool based on My Cancer Genome, an online precision cancer medicine knowledge resource for physicians, patients, caregivers and researchers.
Mia Levy, M.D., Ph.D., VICC co-founder of the My Cancer Genome tool, said the agreement should improve the way oncologists deliver genome-directed care across the country.
“We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with GenomOncology to enhance My Cancer Genome and develop tools for other hospitals, labs and cancer centers to use for patient care,” said Levy, Ingram assistant professor of Cancer Research. “We believe in the need for high-quality, curated information to educate physicians and give them confidence as they make treatment decisions for patients.”
Through this collaboration, GenomOncology, based in Westlake, Ohio, and VICC will enhance My Cancer Genome through the development of a new genomics content management tool. The MyCancerGenome.org website will remain free and open to the public.
In addition, GenomOncology will develop a decision support tool based on My Cancer Genome data that will enable automated interpretation of mutations in the genome of a patient’s tumor, providing actionable results in hours versus days. According to the terms of the agreement, all commercial use of My Cancer Genome in any form will be licensed through GenomOncology.
“The future of cancer diagnostics and treatment is genomics-based precision medicine. Therapies based on the specific genetic alterations that underlie a patient’s cancer not only result in better outcomes but often have less adverse reactions,” said Manuel Glynias, president and CEO of GenomOncology. “A resource like My Cancer Genome that matches tumor mutations to therapies and makes information accessible and convenient is an incredibly valuable tool. Our collaboration with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center on My Cancer Genome is designed to keep this resource comprehensive, scalable and easy for clinicians to use.”
VICC launched My Cancer Genome in January 2011 as an integral part of the Personalized Cancer Medicine Initiative that helps physicians and researchers track the latest developments in precision cancer medicine and connect with clinical research trials. This Web-based information tool is designed to quickly educate clinicians on the rapidly expanding list of genetic mutations that impact cancers and enable the research of treatment options based on specific mutations.
For more information on My Cancer Genome, visit www.mycancergenome.org.
