Advances in Personalized Medicine for Gyn Cancers - May 13,2015

Forty-five participants joined us for our May chat as we discussed Advances in Personalized Medicine. We were grateful to have Dr. Scott Richard (@sdr2md), Director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Hahnemann University Hospital, and Kelly Mellott and Dr. Juan Avila from Helomics™ Corporation (@HelomicsCancer) share their expertise on this important and timely topic. Other participants included our health care moderators, researchers, health care providers, survivors and advocates. Chat analytics may be found here.

I've highlighted just a few of the tweets in response to our discussion questions.

T1A: What are some misconceptions you've heard about personalized medicine?

T1. Misconception: That tumors are genomically static and studying 1 sample (eg biopsy) will be informative for later line decisions #gyncsm

— Angela Alexander (@thecancergeek) May 14, 2015

T1A: Another big misconception is that these methods are too expensive and unaffordable for real patients #gyncsm

— Helomics (@HelomicsCancer) May 14, 2015

T1B: What personalized medicine options are currently available to gyn cancer patients? What is tested - tumor tissue, blood?

A1B: Current options include blood tests for genetic risk like BRCA, MyRisk, and Lynch Syndrome testing #gyncsm

— Scott Richard (@sdr2md) May 14, 2015

T1B: Our product, ChemoFx, is a treatment marker which tests a patient’s cancer cells response to various chemotherapeutic agents #gyncsm

— Helomics (@HelomicsCancer) May 14, 2015

Some orgs active w/ GYN cancer Precision Med @HelomicsCancer @ClearityFnd @FoundationATCG @myriadgenetics @carisls @AmbryGenetics #gyncsm

— Christina Lizaso (@btrfly12) May 14, 2015

T2: How does genetic testing impact treatment decisions? What genetic tests are recommended for gyn cancers?

Genetic testing not just for risk assessment and family knowledge, with PM genetic testing results factor into treatment decisions. #gyncsm

— Christina Lizaso (@btrfly12) May 14, 2015

T2 BRCA testing should be done on all ovarian cancers and can open new treatment options PARP inhibitors otherwise not available #gyncsm

— Rick Boulay,MD (@journeycancer) May 14, 2015

T3: How can I discuss personalized medicine options with my cancer care team? What if my doctor doesn't believe in these options?

A3: If your Doc doesn’t believe or use personalized tests, then ask her or him if they would want this information for their mom #gyncsm

— Scott Richard (@sdr2md) May 14, 2015

T3 Personalized medicine can mean different things to different folks. In speaking to clinicians make sure you are on the same page. #gyncsm

— Rick Boulay,MD (@journeycancer) May 14, 2015

T3: Remember, it is ALWAYS okay to seek a second opinion. It’s your treatment and your life – your doctor is part of your team #gyncsm

— Helomics (@HelomicsCancer) May 14, 2015

T4A: How do you think the President’s Precision Medicine Initiative will affect patients/ research?

T4 The Precision Medicine Initiative will bring research funding and interest into the topic. #gyncsm

— Rick Boulay,MD (@journeycancer) May 14, 2015

T4 - am hoping the president's PM initiative also covers personalized immunotherapy and not just genomics driven targets therapies #gyncsm

— Andy (@AndytweetM) May 14, 2015

T4B: What are the challenges to bringing the benefit of personalized medicine to gyn cancer patients? How will patient care change?

@gyncsm as ppl become thr own advocates of demanding good care from HCP. slowly u c personalized medicine. Findg ur voice #gyncsm

— Ann Wax (@annwax) May 14, 2015

If you want to read more of this informative discussion you may find the transcript here .

A list of resources shared by participants during the chat may be found at the end of this post.  

We hope you will join us on June 10, 2015 as we join with #hpm for a chat on Palliative Care. And be sure to watch for #gyncsm in tweets reporting the latest from the ASCO Annual meeting (#ASCO15, May 29-June 2).

Dee

#gyncsm co-founder and co-moderator

RESOURCES:

Precision Medicine and Targeted Therapy overview via @theNCI: http://t.co/OvBNHgBinH

Overview of immunotherapy tactics and trials for cervical and ovarian http://t.co/50EGJ4929S

@myriadgenetics: Companion Diagnostics Visit http://t.co/vjcgk78Kne

Personalized Cancer Therapy - MD Anderson https://pct.mdanderson.org/

Organizations active w/ GYN cancer Precision Medicine @HelomicsCancer @ClearityFnd @FoundationATCG @myriadgenetics @carisls @AmbryGene

Research explores new, personalized #ovariancancer treatments http://t.co/uGCZXNadXD

National Society of Genetics Counselors http://t.co/HJ6EgbJjxa

ASCO 2015 abstract PM and endometrial cancer- more to learn http://t.co/oJFl6EV8IG
ASCO abstract for PM and cervical cancer http://t.co/eSL3RnIXCv
ASCO abstract for ovarian cancer and PM http://t.co/PimP9Mx6aX

@CancerTodayMag article lists good questions to ask your Doctor http://t.co/zZrCctRxml

How to Talk so your Doctor Will Listen (not specific to PM) http://t.co/2VFICJBQDO

Patient resource for PM / olaparib treatment for #ovariancancer http://t.co/ovlGNH2J5F

Helomics™ Corporation :
patient section currently http://t.co/2vzrfni8gF
questions for your doctor for #ovariancancer: http://t.co/IllLM0Mav4
checklist to talk to your doctor for #endometrialcancer or #uterinecancer: http://t.co/gPQgDPYGmx

@myriadgenetics
“Personalizedmedicine is a game changer – it’s the future of medicine.”video   http://bit.ly/1OUi62f
#ovariancancer patient discussing PM http://t.co/8V7qPTjAtN

@permedcoalition The Case for Personalized Medicine - 4th Edition w/ Drugs/Relevant Gene Chart http://t.co/aYvmmjKmY3
Pg 6: % pts whose tumors driven by certain mutations could be targets for specific drugs, by cancer type http://t.co/Nm6Fg0wgLg

Bombarded w/Changes in Health Care & Beyond, Gyn Oncologists Prepare for the Challenges Ahead http://t.co/JcftUtVO0…

Fact Sheet President's Precision Medicine Initiative : https://t.co/A85dgI6S0E

#PARP inhibitors: A new era of targeted therapy #ovariancancer  http://t.co/73WAO2zmlM

Image of key pathways in #ovca  http://t.co/qR4qXxJBJS

Immune-Based Treatment Shows Promise against Metastatic Cervical Cancer http://t.co/4y4nFEGqkF

ovarian cancer FANG vaccine http://t.co/QXUAKclm6d

SGO genetic testing in gyn cancers: ovarian cancer https://t.co/lp5gWgW8FD
SGO Lynch testing statement for endometrial cancer https://t.co/lp5gWgW8FD
SGO statement on Next Gen multi- gene sequencing panels https://t.co/Mu8zBe3Y8r

Saving Tumor Tissue @OCRF Webinar http://t.co/FeYvQbk7Rq

@OncLive Search for Immune-specific biomarkers is in full swing: http://t.co/JXZRr00vPG

Imprecise marketing of precision medicine: Advertising may be running ahead of science http://t.co/cl1SKHbOvQ

Lecture by Dr. Funda Meric-Bernstam  MDACC https://t.co/n6w6exQQEf

Liquid Biopsies may change cancer care #gyncsm http://t.co/VD3MutGt78

@WSJhealth : A New Way to Use Old Tools Against #OvarianCancer http://t.co/L8dFeYl5h5