#United States #Caris Life Sciences #Irving #Precision Medicine #pan-cancer therapies

Caris Life Sciences Unveils Transformative Study

In a groundbreaking revelation, Caris Life Sciences®, a frontrunner in the next-gen AI TechBio space and a leader in precision medicine, has made headlines with the publication of a pivotal study in Nature Communications. This research scrutinizes the largest real-world dataset to date involving over 295,000 patients, focusing on the eligibility and efficacy of tissue-agnostic treatments, often referred to as "pan-cancer" therapies. These treatments, which include drugs like pembrolizumab and larotrectinib, are designed to target specific molecular and genetic characteristics of tumors, as opposed to their anatomical placement or type.

Key Findings from the Study

The findings of this extensive analysis underscore the potential of tissue-agnostic therapies in revolutionizing cancer treatment. Notably, it was observed that:

• - Over 20% of patients in the study cohort were found to be candidates for tissue-agnostic therapy.
• - Approximately 5% of patients who had no specific tumor-related indication were subsequently discovered to have tissue-agnostic eligibility, allowing them to receive these innovative treatments.
• - The uptake of these therapies was notably low for rare indications, emphasizing the necessity for improved educational outreach for clinicians and oncologists.
• - The research suggests a possibility for expanding existing indications based on observed clinical benefits across different tumor types and similar drug classes, which were not originally covered in early clinical trials.

“The results from our comprehensive dataset reveal that tissue-agnostic therapies yield varied outcomes based on tissue type,” stated Dr. George W. Sledge, Jr., Chief Medical Officer at Caris and one of the authors of the study. “This data provides evidence of potential beyond the currently approved therapeutic indications, showcasing how real-world data can effectively inform the clinical applications of these drugs.”

The Impact of Real-World Data

The study utilized a robust real-world database comprising 295,316 molecularly analyzed tumor specimens paired with clinical outcomes from 57 different tumor types. It aimed to evaluate the use of six prominent tissue-agnostic therapies: pembrolizumab, larotrectinib, entrectinib, dostarlimab, dabrafenib, and selpercatinib.
Among the results:

• - A staggering 21.5% of patients displayed at least one FDA-approved indication for tissue-agnostic therapies, including 5.4% who showed no tumor-specific indications.
• - Patients with rare gene fusions, such as those seen in NTRK fusions, exhibited poor access to successful treatment options like larotrectinib and entrectinib, highlighting a critical gap in oncologist education regarding these unique therapeutic opportunities.

Additionally, significant variations were noted in the outcomes associated with pembrolizumab depending on the tumor type for primary indications—TMB-High (tumor mutational burden) and MSI-High/dMMR (microsatellite instability). This variation reinforces that the effectiveness of these therapies is indeed influenced by tissue type rather than being entirely tissue-agnostic.

Advancing the Future of Precision Medicine

The implications of this study are vast. By leveraging Caris’ extensive clinico-genomic database, there exists a heightened ability to distill vital clinical insights from the real-world application of tissue-agnostic drugs. Dr. David Spetzler, President of Caris and co-author of the study, remarked, “We have established one of the most comprehensive datasets in oncology through meticulous molecular profiling. The insights gleaned from our advanced data analytics reveal the potential for significant improvements in patient care as one in five patients from our analysis qualify for treatment with tissue-agnostic therapies, indicating a profound clinical impact.”

The Caris Platform offers an ambitious approach to precision medicine, employing Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing (WTS) to present a deep, accurate perspective of individual patient diseases. This thorough molecular blueprint enables the identification of personalized treatment strategies, ultimately aiming to enhance clinical outcomes for individuals battling cancer.

About Caris Life Sciences

Founded with the vision to unlock the potential of precision medicine, Caris Life Sciences is headquartered in Irving, Texas, with additional offices worldwide. The company is committed to reshaping healthcare through advanced molecular profiling and AI technology, aiming to deliver innovative solutions to improve patient outcomes. To learn more, visit CarisLifeSciences.com.