AI Brings Clinical Trials to Cancer Patients at Warp Speed

MemorialCare Research Cuts Drive, Wait Time for Advanced Cancer Care Patients by More than Half with New TIME Trial

Oncology clinical trials play a critical role in improving patient quality of life. However, it may be difficult for patients to participate in a clinical trial that's right for them. The clinical trial that is best for the patient may not be available at a convenient location, which can decrease their willingness to enroll because they don't have the ability or means to travel long distances.

"A patient may be a match for a clinical trial far from home but doesn't have the resources or capabilities to get there," says Amol Rao, M.D., medical director, Cancer Research, MemorialCare Cancer Institute. Almost two-thirds of cancer patients don’t enroll in clinical trials due to a lack of access at the community level."

Another challenge is the time between opening a clinical trial and patient enrollment. Often, it takes months for an institution to open a clinical trial so that patients can participate. Such delays can result from the Institutional Review Board/Ethics Committee review process, budgeting and contracting processes, and insurance approvals.

The Research Program at MemorialCare offers an innovative way to bring clinical trials closer to home by matching the clinical trial best for MemorialCare Cancer Institute patients faster than ever before. The Tempus Integrated Molecular Evaluation (TIME) Trial™ uses real-time clinical and molecular data to match cancer patients to targeted clinical trials faster by using artificial intelligence (AI).

Tempus TIME Trial™ sequences a patient's molecular data and clinical history and compares it against each trial's structured inclusion and exclusion criteria through trial matching software and methods. This process of matching the patient to the clinical trial went from taking months to just 14 days. Tempus leverages its established relationships with hospitals across the country and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to increase patient access to the best fit clinical trials.

"We are very excited to open up access to clinical trials to our patients through the TIME Trial™," says Dr. Rao. "For cancer patients, a clinical trial could be the key between cancer growth or remission. Being able to offer them the right trial, at the right time, with the convenience of receiving the trial close to home, is everything for our patients."

The Tempus TIME Trial™ grants MemorialCare Cancer Institute the opportunity to implement innovative technology to provide excellent care for patients at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, Long Beach, and surrounding areas.

MemorialCare Cancer Institute is committed to helping patients overcome the challenges of cancer. Part of that is providing the latest and most effective cancer treatments through personalized care developed for each patient's unique needs, made possible through research. The Research Program at MemorialCare is committed to investing in clinical research to continue improving the community's quality of life.

For more information about the TEMPUS Time Trial, visit memorialcare.org/research.