Molecular Tumor Board

OncoSET’s Molecular Tumor Board meets weekly to analyze the sequencing results of individual patients, one by one.

The multidisciplinary team, co-chaired by Erica Vormittag-Nocito, MD, and David VanderWeele, MD, PhD, is made up of medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, along with pathologists, molecular scientists, pharmacologists, radiologists, genetic counselors, bioinformaticians and other experts across a range of specialties.

Informed by the tumor’s unique profile, the team devises an optimal treatment plan for each patient. That treatment, based on the molecularly defined targets, might include an available drug or enrollment in an early-stage clinical trial at the Lurie Cancer Center.

Since its inception, the Molecular Tumor Board has evaluated the genetic profiles of hundreds of patients, many of whom had advanced stage cancer or cancer that was unresponsive to standard treatment. Not only has the model made a real difference in individual patient outcomes, but with basic scientists at the table, new insights gleaned through the clinic may eventually serve as the building blocks of tomorrow’s targeted cures.