Download CPD FAQ brochure

WHAT IS THE
CENTER FOR PERSONALIZED
DIAGNOSTICS? (CPD)
FAQ:
The CPD aims to uncover genetic mutations within a
patient’s own cancer that can allow for a more targeted and
personalized “precision” treatment strategy. The CPD is a
joint program and collaboration between Penn’s Department
HOW PENN’S PERSONALIZED
DIAGNOSTICS CAN HELP
of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the Abramson
I F Y O U A R E A C A N C E R P AT I E N T
Cancer Center. That means our pathologists work hand-inhand with your oncologist to determine the best course of
action for your cancer treatment, based on the genomic test
results and your specific needs.
“
“
Armed with Personalized Diagnostics, physicians can apply
This is the key to personalized ‘precision’ medicine.
– D avid B. Roth, MD, PhD
Simon Flexner Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Director, Penn Center for Precision Medicine
FY16-11178 07/16
genetic findings in a proactive way to tailor cancer treatments.
The Center for
Personalized Diagnostics
PennMedicine.org/CPD
WHAT IS PERSONALIZED OR
PRECISION MEDICINE?
Personalized medicine aims to individualize treatments to
match each patient with the therapy they are most likely
to respond to by assessing the patients’ unique genomic
alterations or background. This allows your medical team
to more precisely deliver the right treatment, to the right
person, at the right time.
WHAT DOES CANCER HAVE TO DO WITH
GENOMIC ALTERATIONS?
Cancer is just normal cells that have acquired genetic
mutations that make those cells become “cancer” cells.
(See graphic below)
DOES IT REQUIRE ANOTHER PROCEDURE?
Only your oncologist can order a CPD test. To have your
cancer tested by the CPD usually does not require another
procedure. Your oncologist will request your sample to be
sent directly to the lab for analysis.
HOW CAN THE CPD HELP ME?
The CPD can help find those exact genomic alterations
that turned your healthy cells into cancer cells and can be
targeted to help eliminate them.
WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THE CPD WILL
IDENTIFY A TARGETED TREATMENT FOR ME?
In clinical cases, disease-associated mutations have been
reported in 75% of patient tests which may reveal results
with therapeutic significance. Though the mutations can be
useful for better understanding your cancer, the mutations
often do not have a treatment to match the particular
mutation. The clinical relevance of the findings associated
with CPD testing will be discussed by your oncologist.
WHO SHARES THE RESULTS WITH ME AND
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECEIVE THEM?
Your oncologist will share your results with you and review
what the next steps are for your treatment. Depending on what
tests are ordered, results are usually received within 7-14 days.
HOW MUCH DOES CPD COST AND WILL
MY INSURANCE COVER IT?
The CPD is committed to providing patients, clinicians
and healthcare professionals with high quality and
affordable oncology testing. The CPD accepts all private
insurances and Medicare. Our complete billing policy is
listed on the CPD web site, PennMedicine.org/CPD.
HOW CAN KNOWING MY GENOMIC
ALTERATIONS POSSIBLY HELP MY
CANCER TREATMENT?
The most important result of Precision Medicine is
that it can help to identify targeted therapies that may
be more effective and have less side effects, based
on the patient’s individualized cancer mutations.
Knowing genomic cancer alterations may also spare
some individuals the costs and side effects of targeted
therapies. Knowing your genomic alterations may
also provide a rationale for matching your results with
molecularly targeted therapies in clinical trials. Your
oncologist will discuss these options if they apply.
CANCER
GENOMIC ALTERATIONS & THE CPD
QUESTIONS?
HEALTHY cell
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
or some other agent causes
mutations in cell’s DNA
MUTATIONS turn
the healthy cells into
“Cancer” cells, which
multiply, live forever
CPD lets us find the
exact mutations that
turned these cells into
cancer, so that available
treatments targeted at
those exact mutations
can be tried
You should first ask your oncologist for specific
questions you have regarding testing at CPD.
Learn more at Penn Medicine.org/CPD.