Data generated from our Know Your TumorSM precision medicine initiative are being presented today at the 2016 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in San Francisco, Calif. This prestigious annual meeting brings together more than 3,000 healthcare professionals from around the world who focus on the study and treatment of cancers within the gastrointestinal tract, including pancreatic. 

In collaboration with the personalized cancer therapy company Perthera and other research partners, we submitted three abstracts that were invited to be presented as posters at this year’s Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. 

The posters focus on our Know Your Tumor initiative, providing patients access to molecular profiling of their pancreatic tumors.  The molecular profiling reveals which genetic changes contributed to each patient’s tumor formation and progression, and expert review of the results can help the patient’s doctor select the best treatment options for that individual. 

To date, we have provided molecular data to 175 patients.  So far, reports from around 40 percent of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (the most common form of pancreatic cancer) have identified genetic alterations that may be helpful as patients and their oncologists make treatment decisions.  These options include clinical trials and other treatments, which may help improve the patient’s outcome. 

Due to the incredible reach of our Patient Central program – recently exceeding 100,000 contacts – we are uniquely positioned to conduct this sort of large-scale effort to provide personalized treatment options to patients today, as well as gather and analyze information that can benefit future pancreatic cancer patients. 

In addition to providing patients, families and caregivers with vital information about the disease and crucial services and resources, Patient Central Associates provide hope. 

You can schedule an appointment with a Patient Central Associate here.  Or, you can reach a Patient Central Associate Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. PDT, at 877.573.9971, or email patientcentral@pancan.org.