University of Arizona Cancer Center and Banner-University Medical Center Tucson Join the Precision Oncology Alliance Powered by Caris Life Sciences

IRVING, Texas, July 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Caris Life Sciences^®, a leading innovator in molecular science focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine, today announced that the University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) and its clinical partner Banner ? University Medical Center Tucson (Banner ? UMC Tucson) have joined Caris' Precision Oncology Alliancetm (POA). They join other leading cancer centers to develop standards of care and best practices for the use of tumor profiling, making cancer treatment more precise and effective.

"We look forward to working with Caris Life Sciences and the Precision Oncology Alliance to further advance molecular profiling and precision medicine," said Andrew Kraft, M.D., UACC Director. "As oncology continues to move toward individualized medicine, it is critical that we develop capabilities to accurately profile cancerous tumors and identify effective treatments, ultimately improving patient care and survival."

The POA, which consists of 25 academic, hospital and community-based cancer institutions including seven NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, is broadening patient access to precision medicine tools and establishing evidence-based standards for tumor profiling and molecular testing in oncology. The POA will leverage Caris' comprehensive genomic profiling plus (CGP+) tumor profiling service, Caris Molecular Intelligence^®, to identify therapy options and clinical trial opportunities based on the unique molecular characteristics of a patient's tumor.

"Banner ? UMC Tucson is currently the only nationally ranked hospital in its region, and has a long history of developing and advancing precision medicine programs," said John Marshall, M.D., Director of the Otto J. Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancer at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and Chief of the Division of Hematology-Oncology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and Chairman of the POA Executive Committee. "With Banner as their clinical partner, UACC will be a particularly valuable and productive member of our Alliance."

Caris Molecular Intelligence assesses DNA, RNA and proteins to reveal a molecular profile to guide more precise and individualized treatment decisions. Based on the unique molecular characteristics of an individual patient's cancer, the results help inform treatment decisions by identifying therapies that have the potential to be most effective and to rule out those that are less likely to work.

About Caris Life Sciences^®
Caris Life Sciences^® is a leading innovator in molecular science focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine through quality and innovation, and the world's leading immunotherapy diagnostic expert. Caris Molecular Intelligence^®, the company's Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Plus (CGP+) molecular testing service, assesses DNA, RNA and proteins, including microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutational burden (TMB) and PD-L1, to reveal a molecular blueprint to guide more precise and personalized treatment decisions. Caris' profiling services are routinely covered by third-party payors, including CMS for Medicare patients. The ADAPT Biotargeting System^tm, the company's revolutionary and unbiased profiling platform, is currently being utilized for drug target identification, therapeutic discovery and development, fixed tissue-based companion diagnostics, blood-based cancer screening and biomarker identification. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Caris Life Sciences offers services throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and other international markets. To learn more, please visit www.CarisLifeSciences.com.

About the Precision Oncology Alliancetm
The Precision Oncology Alliance (POA) was established by Caris Life Sciences to promote the study and appropriate use of molecular testing in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The POA consists of 25 leading cancer centers, including seven NCI-Designated Cancer Centers, that have demonstrated a commitment to precision medicine and work collaboratively toward a common goal: to advance tumor profiling and establish standards of care for molecular testing in oncology. The POA has produced more than five peer-reviewed manuscripts and presented over 50 posters at industry conferences.

About the University of Arizona Cancer Center
The University of Arizona Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center with headquarters in Arizona. The UACC is supported by NCI Cancer Center Support Grant No. CA023074. With primary locations at the University of Arizona in Tucson and at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, the UACC has more than a dozen research and education offices in Phoenix and throughout the state and 300 physician and scientist members work together to prevent and cure cancer. For more information: uacc.arizona.edu (Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube)

About Banner ? University Medical Center Tucson and South
Banner ? University Medical Center Tucson, nationally ranked as a Best Hospital by U.S. News and World Report, and Banner ? University Medical Center South, are part of Banner ? University Medicine, a premier academic medical network. These institutions are academic medical centers for the University of Arizona College of Medicine ? Tucson. Included on the two campuses are Diamond Children's Medical Center and many specialty clinics. The two academic medical centers are part of Arizona-based Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health-care systems in the country, with 28 hospitals in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit BannerHealth.com/UniversityTucson or BannerHealth.com/UniversitySouth.

Media Inquiries:
The Ruth Group
Kirsten Thomas / Joanna Zimmerman
[email protected] / [email protected]
Tel: +1-508-280-6592 / +1-646-536-7006

University of Arizona Cancer Center Media Contact: Anna C. Christensen, 520-626-6401, [email protected]

SOURCE Caris Life Sciences