DECODED, a podcast from Foundation Medicine

3. Genomic Testing: Unlocking New HR+ HER2- Breast Cancer Therapies

Today, we are speaking with Dr. Mia Levy, former Chief Medical Officer at Foundation Medicine. With nearly two decades of experience as a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer, Dr. Levy is a nationally recognized leader in precision oncology and biomedical informatics. Before joining Foundation Medicine, she served as Director of the Cancer Center at Rush University Medical Center and System Vice President for Cancer Services at Rush System for Health. She has extensive expertise in developing data-driven systems to support decision-making in cancer care and research, including leading the development of My Cancer Genome, an international resource for guiding treatment decisions based on tumor genetics. We discuss some of the latest advancements in breast cancer treatment, including the role of PI3K pathway alterations and acquired alterations in ESR1 in identifying patients who may benefit from targeted therapies. We’ll explore how genomic testing is shaping the future of precision medicine and what these developments mean for both clinicians and patients.

2. Genomic Testing to Identify Targetable Fusions

Today we are speaking with Hanna Tukachinsky and Jessica Lee. Dr. Tukachinsky is a Senior Translational Scientist at Foundation Medicine who focuses on diagnostics and precision oncology. Ms. Lee is a Data Scientist at Foundation Medicine with expertise in genomic data and its clinical applications. They both are co-authors on a recently published paper titled Circulating Tumor DNA Enables Sensitive Detection of Actionable Gene Fusions and Rearrangements Across Cancer Types.

1. ctDNA Tumor Fraction Matters When Interpreting Liquid Biopsy Test Results

Today we are talking with Dr. Lincoln Pasquina, Director of Clinical Development at Foundation Medicine. Dr. Pasquina leads a team that is on the cutting edge of the newest advances in comprehensive genomic profiling. These genomic tests help providers with therapy selection for their patients, expand the number of people who can enroll in trials, increase access to therapies for patients, and accelerate new drug development. Right now, his focus is on liquid biopsy and Foundation Medicine's new ctDNA tumor fraction algorithm that improves confidence in the test, especially when supporting next step decision making concerning negative results.