Tempus AI, Stemline collaborate to leverage Next to help clinicians

Tempus AI (TEM) and Stemline Therapeutics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Menarini Group, announced a new collaboration. The two companies will leverage Next – Tempus’ AI-enabled care pathway intelligence platform – to help clinicians determine when an ESR1 test may be appropriate. Up to 50% of patients with ER+/HER2- mBC could develop ESR1 mutations as a result of prior exposure to endocrine therapy in the metastatic setting. Recognizing the clinical importance of these mutations, the American Society of Clinical Oncology updated its guidelines to recommend ESR1 mutation testing at each mBC disease progression. ESR1 mutations are subclonal and heterogeneous within the tumor; therefore, testing for ESR1 with a tissue biopsy may not identify these mutations. Instead, the guidelines recommend clinicians should test for ESR1 mutations using liquid biopsy due to its greater sensitivity and ability to show a markedly higher prevalence of any of the genomic alterations assessed. Unlike testing for other biomarkers, using an archived tumor tissue sample taken before disease progression on first-line treatment in mBC is not recommended. ESR1 testing via liquid biopsy can help clinicians understand what is driving the breast cancer’s progression, and in turn, support more informed treatment-making decisions. Tempus’ Next platform will analyze clinical data from mBC patients treated in certain centers and notify clinicians when ESR1 testing is missing at disease progression. By providing these timely notifications directly into the physicians’ workflow, Next helps support the appropriate integration of this critical step into the patient’s treatment journey in an effort to optimize care and potential outcomes.