The Nagourney Cancer Institute employs a sophisticated approach called Functional Profiling to tailor cancer treatment for individual patients. This technique significantly differs from the genomic testing commonly offered at many centers.
Functional Profiling involves a laboratory process where living cancer cells are tested against a variety of drugs and drug combinations. This method is designed to identify the most effective and least toxic treatment options for each cancer patient. The results from their CLIA licensed laboratory are available within seven days.
The Nagourney Cancer Institute has developed this technique applying the Ex Vivo Analysis of Programmed Cell Death (EVA-PCD) assay, pioneered by Dr. Robert Nagourney.
One of the critical advantages of Functional Profiling over traditional genomic testing is its focus on the actual response of cancer cells to treatment, rather than just analyzing genetic mutations. This real-time analysis can more accurately predict which drugs and combinations will be effective for a specific patient's cancer, leading to better treatment outcomes.
The process includes isolating cancer cell natural explants from a patient, exposing these to various drugs and combinations, and then analyzing the tumor explant survival to assess drug-induced programmed cell death. This approach not only helps in choosing the right treatment but also avoids unnecessary side effects and can reduce the overall cost of cancer care.
In addition to its diagnostic capabilities, the Nagourney Cancer Institute's Functional Profiling approach is backed by over 20 years of research and over 11,000 patient studies. This extensive database aids in providing more personalized and effective treatment plans.
The Institute also supports pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms in their research and development processes, leveraging their EVA-PCD functional platform to analyze new compounds across multiple disease types.
The Functional Profiling technique developed by the Nagourney Cancer Institute represents a significant advancement in personalized cancer treatment.
It allows for a more accurate prediction of treatment responses, reducing the likelihood of ineffective treatments and their associated costs, both financially and in terms of patient well-being. Supported by extensive research and patient data, Functional Profiling stands out as the most scientifically validated and effective approach in the cancer treatment process.
Published Peer-Reviewed Articles
D'Amora P, Silva IDCG, Tewari KS, Bristow RE, Cappuccini F, Evans SS, Salzgeber MB, Addis-Bernard PJ, Palma AM, Marchioni DML, Carioca AAF, Penner KR, Alldredge J, Longoria T, Nagourney RA. Platinum resistance in gynecologic malignancies: Response, disease free and overall survival are predicted by biochemical signature: A metabolomic analysis. Gynecol Oncol. 2021 Oct;163(1):162-170. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2021.08.001. Epub 2021 Aug 24. PMID: 34446269.
Nagourney AJ, Gipoor JB, Evans SS, D’Amora P, Duesberg MS, Bernard PJ, Francisco F, Nagourney RA. Therapeutic Targeting of P53: A Comparative Analysis of APR-246 and COTI-2 in Human Tumor Primary Culture 3-D Explants. Genes (Basel). 2023 Mar 19;14(3):747. Doi: 10.3390/genes14030747. PMID: 36981018; PMCID: PMC10048363.
Nagourney RA, Evans S, Tran PH, Nagourney AJ, Sugarbaker PH. Colorectal cancer cells from patients treated with FOLFOX or CAPOX are resistant to oxaliplatin. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2021 Apr;47(4):738-742. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2020.09.017. Epub 2020 Sep 19. PMID: 33004272.
Learn more about Nagourney Cancer Institute Research here.