CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NantHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ-GS: NH), a next-generation, evidence-based, personalized healthcare company, today announced its support for a research study initiated by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) that will use NantHealth’s GPS Cancer™ panomic molecular analysis test to explore the molecular basis of patients with metastatic or recurrent breast cancer. The study will be led by co - principal investigators Hope S. Rugo, MD, and Denise M. Wolf, PhD, from UCSF.

This year, approximately 40,000 women will die from breast cancer in the United States1. Despite improvements in early detection, breast cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related mortalities. NantHealth and UCSF will collaborate to collect tissue specimens and clinical data from patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. The main goal of this project is to implement a comprehensive molecular profiling pilot study, directed towards women with metastatic breast cancer, that (1) creates a work flow to establish the feasibility of real time comprehensive profiling to support clinical decision making, (2) benefits participating patients by evaluating ‘actionable’ biomarkers and returning results, and (3) records whether the results were considered useful and impacted care.

“It is an exciting time for us as we embark on this partnership with Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong and NantHealth to further investigate metastatic breast cancer,” said Dr. Hope S. Rugo, clinical professor of the Department of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology) and director of the Breast Oncology Clinical Trials Program at UCSF and principal investigator of this study. “We understand that every patient responds to treatment differently, making it imperative for us to develop effective, personalized treatment options to fight stage IV breast cancer. My team and I are looking forward to this study and are confident that we will have a better understanding of how molecular profiling plays into physicians’ treatment decisions.”

This study will allow UCSF researchers to utilize advancements made in molecular technology to examine the potential clinical feasibility of molecular profiling, including gene mutations, gene and protein expression in the context of patient care. The biopsy materials collected will also allow researchers to examine immune markers within the tumor architecture. Through this partnership, UCSF will increase its access to exceptional molecular profiling, combined with exploratory markers.

“UCSF’s health science research is recognized worldwide for pushing scientific boundaries and they have been known for their thoughtful and strategic collaborations that aim to advance the way diseases are treated,” said Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD, Chairman and CEO of NantHealth. “As we look to better understand the underlying cause of stage IV breast cancer, I am certain that Drs. Rugo and Wolf and their team of investigators have the knowledge, resources and expertise to be successful in exploring the relationship of immune profiling with tumor characteristics and molecular profiling in patients diagnosed with this form of breast cancer.”

University of California, San Francisco Disclaimer
The information stated above was prepared by NantHealth, Inc. and reflects solely the opinion of the corporation. Nothing in this statement shall be construed to imply any support or endorsement of NantHealth, or any of its products, by The Regents of the University of California, its officers, agents and employees.

About University of California, San Francisco
UC San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It includes top-ranked graduate schools of dentistry, medicine, nursing and pharmacy; a graduate division with nationally renowned programs in basic, biomedical, translational and population sciences; and a preeminent biomedical research enterprise. It also includes UCSF Health, which comprises three top-ranked hospitals, UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland, and other partner and affiliated hospitals and healthcare providers throughout the Bay Area.

About GPS Cancer™
GPS Cancer™ is a unique, molecular scan available through NantHealth. GPS Cancer integrates whole genome (DNA) sequencing, whole transcriptome (RNA) sequencing, and quantitative proteomics through mass spectrometry, providing oncologists with a comprehensive molecular profile of a patient's cancer and an assessment of protein pathway function to inform personalized treatment strategies. GPS Cancer scanning is conducted in CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratories, and is a key enabler for Cancer Breakthroughs 2020, the world's most comprehensive cancer collaborative initiative seeking to accelerate the potential of combination immunotherapy as the next generation standard of care in cancer patients. For more information, visit www.gpscancer.com.