Veracyte Partners with Helix to Enhance Prostate Cancer Diagnostic Testing
- Veracyte partners with Helix to enhance prostate cancer diagnostics through integrated germline and transcriptomic testing.
- The collaboration aims to democratize access to genomic insights for all prostate cancer patients, improving treatment options.
- Veracyte's Decipher® Prostate test will work alongside Helix’s Exome+® assay to tailor therapies based on genetic profiles.
Veracyte and Helix Join Forces to Advance Prostate Cancer Diagnostics
In a significant development for cancer diagnostics, Veracyte has partnered with Helix to improve the integration of comprehensive germline testing for patients diagnosed with high-risk localized and metastatic prostate cancer. This collaboration is poised to enhance the accessibility of Helix's whole-exome hereditary cancer test alongside Veracyte’s Decipher® Prostate test, which characterizes tumor biology and helps determine prognosis and treatment pathways. By combining these sophisticated testing modalities, urologists will gain a deeper understanding of both the genetic underpinnings of prostate cancer and the inherited risks that may affect patient care.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) endorses germline genetic testing as a critical component for managing high-risk prostate cancer cases, recognizing that such insights can significantly influence treatment decisions, including the deployment of targeted therapies like PARP inhibitors. Through this partnership, Veracyte and Helix aim to streamline the workflow of integrating both germline and transcriptomic testing, ensuring that healthcare providers can make informed decisions in line with the latest clinical guidelines. This alignment is essential, as it empowers physicians to tailor treatment options based on an individual patient's cancer predisposition and inherited genetic traits.
Dr. James Lu, CEO of Helix, articulates the collaborative goal of democratizing access to genomic insights, emphasizing that all cancer patients deserve the benefits of precision medicine, not just those treated at specialized centers. By leveraging Helix’s Exome+® assay and the Sequence Once, Query Often® model, the partnership seeks to deliver high-quality genomic insights efficiently, potentially reducing the necessity for repeated testing. This initiative is also bolstered by Helix’s Research Network®, which is recognized as the largest and fastest-growing precision clinical research network globally, furthering the mission of universal cancer screening and advancing the field of precision oncology.
In addition to the collaborative efforts between Veracyte and Helix, the integration of pharmacogenomic testing into this framework allows healthcare providers to customize treatments based on individual genetic profiles. This approach not only enhances the efficacy of therapies but also informs patients and their families about potential risks for additional cancers. The partnership marks a vital step in ensuring that cutting-edge genomic insights are accessible in a streamlined manner, ultimately improving patient outcomes in the realm of prostate cancer treatment.
For further details about Helix's advancements in precision oncology and the implications of this collaboration, interested parties can visit Helix's official website.