Cancer Commons Researchers Publish Molecular Disease Model for Lung Cancer

February 28, 2012

PALO ALTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Cancer Commons, an open‐science initiative to personalize cancer treatments and accelerate research, announces the publication of a molecular disease model (MDM) for lung cancer. The paper, by Lisandra West, Ravi Salgia, and others will appear in the February 21st issue of PLoS ONE (http://www.plosone.org).

The lung cancer MDM classifies the disease into subtypes based on a tumor’s histology and its molecular profile. Each subtype is then linked to published clinical treatment guidelines and other proposed therapy options, including investigational agents available through clinical tests. This information can help physicians understand therapy options for individual patients based on their tumor’s molecular subtype. Going forward, the resulting clinical responses can be used to refine the model. The MDM is a living review article, maintained by experts and continually updated based on input from the entire cancer community. The most recent version is available online at:

Lung Cancer Molecular Disease Model

Cancer Commons has assembled an elite group of volunteer clinical and translational scientists to create MDMs for lung and other common cancers under the leadership of George Lundberg, MD, Cancer Commons Senior Advisor. The editorial process ensures a lack of bias and conflict of interest in the construction of these models from a scientific and medical perspective. Cancer Commons relies on organizations such as Pfizer Inc. for the financial support required to develop the models and make them freely available, as an educational and scientific resource.

“This molecular disease model for such a common serious cancer provides the opportunity for patients (even late stage) and their physicians to work together to access promising new therapies,” said Dr. George Lundberg, MD, former editor‐in‐chief of JAMA, and a member of the Cancer Commons Advisory Board.

“The Lung Cancer model supplies doctors and their patients with a clear, high‐level guide to how tumor genetics can be leveraged to inform treatment decisions. The model helps physicians evaluate options in designing an optimal treatment plan for their patients,” said Ravi Salgia, M.D., Chief Editor of the Lung Cancer MDM, and a Cancer Commons Advisory Board Member.

“CollabRx is very excited to have been a collaborator on this important open science initiative. Using technology to make the best science readily accessible to patients and their physicians in the rapidly emerging field of personalized medicine is the very reason we were founded,” said James Karis, CEO of CollabRx, a cancer informatics company that collaborated on the development of the MDM.

“Pfizer is committed to improving the standard of care for patients with lung cancer, and central to that commitment is our belief that each patient’s tumor is genetically unique,” said Dr. Martine George, Vice President of Global Medical Affairs, Pfizer Oncology. “In providing financial support for this important open-science initiative, we are aiming to help physicians and patients understand the therapeutic options that best fit the patient’s molecular profile, with the goal of delivering more effective, personalized care.”

About Cancer Commons 

Cancer Commons is a non‐profit open science initiative dedicated to improving outcomes for today’s cancer patients. Our goals are to: 1) give each patient the best possible outcome by individualizing their treatment based on their tumor’s genomic subtype; 2) learn as much as possible from each patient’s response, and 3) rapidly disseminate what is learned in time to help the next patient. More information is available at www.cancercommons.org.

 

Dr. Tenenbaum, Speaker & Chair, Bioinformatics & Cancerinformatics “Translating Biomarker Driven Cancer Treatments Into Practice” at Molecular Med Tri-Con 2012

February 23, 2012

Dr. Tenenbaum was a Speaker and Chairperson at Molecular Med Tri-Con’s 2012, Inagural Bioinformatics and Cancerinformatics Session on February 23, 2012, entitled:  ”Translating Biomarker Driven Cancer Treatments into Practice” at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, CA.  Dr. Tenenbaum’s session was entitled:  ”Cancer Commons – A Rapid Learning Community for Cancer”.

Molecular Med Tri-Con 2012

Dr. Tenenbaum Speaks on Open Medicine at Open Science Summit

October 16, 2011

Dr. Marty Tenenbaum, Chairman and co-Founder of CollabRx recently spoke at the Open Science Summit 2011 about Open Medicine and Clinical Trials 2.0. Dr. Tenenbaum described the concept of an open community that compiles and continually refines information about cancer subtypes and treatments based on actual patient outcomes.

CollabRx Chairman Tenenbaum To Host Panel at Leading Personalized Medicine Meeting

September 28, 2011

CollabRx Chairman Marty Tenenbaum will chair a panel session entitled “Let’s Look at Cancer: What’s Happening in Personalized Medicine” at the 7th Annual Burrill & Company Personalized Medicine Meeting in October.

View the Burrill Personalized Medicine Meeting Agenda.

Marty Tenenbaum Discusses the Targeted Therapy Finder on CNN

March 09, 2011

Marty Tenenbaum, CollabRx CEO, discusses the CollabRx Targeted Therapy Finders on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360.

Marty Tenenbaum Talks to Chris Jansing on Cancer Treatment

January 17, 2011

Marty Tenenbaum, CollabRx CEO, is interviewed on MSNBC by Chris Jansing.

Faster Cures Partnering for Cures Presentation

December 14, 2010

Overview: Cancer Commons is an open science initiative where physicians, scientists, and patients collaborate on individualizing treatments.

Its goals are to:
1) give each patient the best possible outcome by personalizing therapy based on his or her tumor’s genomic subtype,
2) learn as much as possible from each patient’s response, and
3) rapidly disseminate what is learned.

Cancer Commons provides patient communities with personalized, actionable information that can save lives, while providing the life sciences industry with a game-changing infrastructure that will slash the time and cost of developing new drugs and diagnostics and getting them to patients.

View Complete Presentation