Press release

Lung cancer: the discovery of six key genes rewarded at the ESMO Congress on 29 September 2014

Paris, 6 October 2014 – A research project spearheaded by Gustave Roussy, Europe's leading oncology centre, in partnership with the HyperCube Institute, with support from its main sponsor BearingPoint, has focused on detecting lung cancer patients at high risk of a relapse who could benefit from adjuvant therapy. The project led to the discovery of a gene signature as a predictor of survival and as such was awarded at the recent ESMO 2014 Congress , an event attended by 20,000 participants in Madrid from 26 to 30 September.

On September 29th, a patent was filed for the results of the collaborative efforts between medical researchers in oncology at Gustave Roussy and mathematicians specialising in complex data analysis at the HyperCube Institute. Bearing testament to the quality and importance of their work, the presentation of the results received the Best Poster Award from the ESMO that same evening.

For further details about the research project:

How to improve the prognosis of patients detected with early-stage lung cancer ?

When a lung tumour is detected in an early-stage patient (Stage I), surgical resection is generally the only treatment proposed. However, nearly one third of patients relapse, often dying within five years. It is vitally important to more effectively target such patients at high risk of a relapse in order to offer a course of chemotherapy that could prevent a recurrence.

By using gene expression data, researchers discovered a signature separating patients into two groups: good and poor prognosis. The high-risk group is two times less likely to survive beyond five years. Adjuvant chemotherapy could therefore be offered to improve the prognosis of patients at high risk of mortality.

The signature is both simple (it only features six genes) and robust, since it has been successfully tested in five independent cohorts. The team of researchers currently wishes to translate the signature into a practical test that can be used by physicians.

World-renowned lung cancer expert Professor Jean-Charles Soria, Head of the Department for Therapeutic Innovation and Early Testing at Gustave Roussy, stated: "Thanks to a groundbreaking analytical method, we have pioneered a tool that can be used to identify which Stage I patients are at high risk of mortality and would therefore benefit from a course of adjuvant chemotherapy."
François d’Ormesson, Director of the HyperCube Institute, advised: "We are both delighted and proud of our contribution to what represents a major step forward in analysing complex biomedical data on such an important subject as lung cancer. This result can be credited to our commitment towards medical research through partnerships with prestigious research teams, such as our partner Gustave Roussy."

About the HyperCube Institute
The HyperCube Institute is a French endowment fund. It is driven by its mission to develop partnerships for pioneering research on rare diseases, orphan diseases and major public health issues by improving its partners' access to innovative data analysis technologies, tools and skills, such as those developed by its main sponsor BearingPoint. The HyperCube Institute is currently leading research projects in partnership with prestigious institutions, including Gustave Roussy, the EORTC, the Association for the Development of Skills in Nephrology - Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, the French National Reference Center for Malaria CNR - Hôpital Bichat, and the REMERA Association.
Contact Institut HyperCube : François d’Ormesson ( contact@institut-hypercube.org)

About Gustave Roussy
Gustave Roussy, Europe's leading oncology centre, is an international institute with expertise in oncology entirely dedicated to its patients. Its single venue contains 2,600 health professionals, whose three main missions are care-giving, research and education. By ploughing nearly 20% of its budget into research, Gustave Roussy proudly declares its determination to promote research as a driving force for innovation for the benefit of its patients. www.gustaveroussy.fr

About BearingPoint
BearingPoint consultants understand that the world of business changes constantly and that the resulting complexities demand intelligent and adaptive solutions. Our clients, whether in commercial or financial industries or in government, experience real results when they work with us. We combine industry, operational and technology skills with relevant proprietary and other assets in order to tailor solutions for each client’s individual challenges. This adaptive approach is at the heart of our culture and has led to long-standing relationships with many of the world’s leading companies and organizations. Our global consulting network of 9200 people serves clients in more than 70 countries and engages with them for measurable results and long-lasting success.
For more information, please visit: www.bearingpoint.com