What are the different profiling tests you accept?

We accept molecular profiling and genomic mutation reports from labs such as:

• Foundation Medicine:
  FoundationOne Liquid CDx – 300+ gene ctDNA panel (FoundationMedicine.com)

• Guardant:
  Guardant360® (GuardantComplete.com)

• Tempus:
  xF (105-gene) & xF+ (523-gene) ctDNA NGS panels
  (tempus.com)

• Myriad:

  BRACAnalysis CDx / EndoPredict / MyRisk / Precise Tumor / Prolaris

How to decide what profiling test to order?

If you are ordering tests for clinical use in the United States, ensure the lab is Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified.

Determine which test type best suits your clinical objectives between: 

o   Labs that offer Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP): This analyzes a wide range of genes simultaneously and can provide a comprehensive picture of genetic alterations

o   Labs that offer targeted panels focus on specific genes or gene regions, which may be appropriate for focusing on specific targets.

Some labs offer liquid biopsies, which analyze circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in blood, offering a non-invasive alternative to tissue biopsies for some conditions. 

Look for labs with a proven track record in genomic profiling.

Choose a lab with experience in specific clinical areas and a good understanding of how genomic information can inform treatment decisions. 

 Determine if the lab has the expertise and technology to accurately detect and analyze the specific alterations of interest. 

 Ensure the lab provides clear and comprehensive reports, including detailed information about the detected alterations.

Consider how the lab handles data security, storage, and sharing.

What is genomic testing?

Genomic testing refers to a variety of tests that analyze your DNA, the genetic material that carries the instructions for your body's functions and development. These tests can identify changes in genes, chromosomes, or proteins. 

Examples:

Whole Genome Sequencing: Analyzes the complete DNA sequence.

Targeted Gene Panels: Focuses on specific genes associated with certain conditions.

Carrier Testing: Determines if an individual carries a gene for a genetic disorder.

How does genomic testing work?

Sample Collection: A sample is collected, usually through a tissue biopsy, blood draw or saliva.

DNA Extraction: The DNA is extracted from the sample.

Sequencing: The DNA is sequenced using advanced technologies to identify genetic variants.

Data Analysis: Bioinformatics tools analyze the sequences for known variants or mutations.

Reporting: Results are compiled into a report that explains the findings and their implications.

What are the benefits of genomic testing?

Genomic testing offers several benefits, including:

Disease Risk Assessment: Identifies genetic predispositions to certain diseases.

Personalized Medicine: Helps tailor treatment plans based on individual genetic makeup.

Carrier Status: Provides information on whether a person carries genes for inherited conditions that could affect family planning.

Ancestry Insights: Some tests offer insights into ancestral origins and relationships.

Who should consider genomic testing?

Genomic testing can be beneficial for:

Individuals with a family history of genetic disorders.

Couples planning a family who want to understand carrier status.

Patients seeking targeted therapies for certain conditions, such as cancer.

Anyone interested in ancestry and genetic background.

Are there any risks or limitations associated with genomic testing?

Yes, there are several potential risks and limitations:

Emotional Impact: Discovering unexpected results can lead to anxiety or stress.

Privacy Concerns: Genetic data may be sensitive, and there are concerns over data security and privacy.

Interpretation of Results: Not all genetic variants are well understood, and results may not always provide an actionable plan.

Why a personalized Allelium™ report is important

Clinicians specializing in natural compound integrative medicine know  that the most effective medical treatments are always tailored to the individual.

Very few  patients who have cancer or other complex  disease take advantage of molecular profiling data available today. This is due primarily to the complexity of genomic data testing, accessibility to genomic testing  and understanding how to interpret it.  Allelium™ facilitates the use of genomics in oncology and other complex  diseases by providing an analysis with actionable knowledge and insight.

There is nothing more individual than our own DNA. DNA is a uniquely individual identifier. While humans share about 99.6% of their DNA sequence, the remaining 0.4% still represents millions of differing bases. These differences, including single-nucleotide variants, insertions, deletions, and structural variants, contribute to a unique genetic blueprint for each person (except for identical twins). 

This uniqueness is further amplified by mutations: These are random changes in DNA sequence  and can introduce new variations. Tailoring non-pharmaceuticals (natural compounds) based on DNA is directly accomplished with an Allelium™ report. Patients and clinicians  want as much information as possible to treat disease. This service gives patients and clinicians actionable information.

This research is global, hard to track down, of varying quality, in different languages, and uses different study designs. Every month, thousands of new papers are published. Allelium™ exhaustively searches  databases of genes, pathways and natural compounds to identify what natural compounds  are associated with improved outcomes in the integrative medical setting. We take all of these studies, weigh the data quality, adjust for different study designs, synthesize it, and organize it into an easy-to-read, actionable report.

        Year after year, the number of genomic research papers increases exponentially from 1,312 in the early 2000s to over 88,173 in 2025, with over 12,000 new research papers  published annually. Allelium™  is the fruits of Pine Street Clinic’s longstanding interest in seamlessly integrating cutting edge science with the  full spectrum of medicine’s attention to personalized medicine.

How does an Allelium™ report help the practitioner?

Practitioners are busy, so when they obtain a genomic profiling report it has to be immediately accessible as to what the key information is and supports the treatment options they might consider. We don’t want potentially valuable information to the patient lost in translation, so our presentation requires that the most pertinent actionable information is a one page report.  Provided as well are the the original source material that support the reports findings that the healthcare provider and patient  can study and review as they need to.

In your  report, we include our uniquely developed “humanistic evidence based medicine (hEBM) "study score" (how much weight you want to give each study based on study design/quality/cohort size, etc.)

How do individualized natural compounds work in the body?

Our unique combining of the  “entourage effect” into full spectrum medicine  (eFSM) can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of natural compounds and lifestyle medicine in cancer and complex disease treatment. The eFSM, as we are defining it, attempts to invoke  “targeted rebalancing”. Rebalancing the cellular microenvironment refers to finding ways to restore a balance to the interactions between cells and their surrounding environment, which can be disrupted in various diseases, particularly cancer. This involves understanding and manipulating the signals and forces that influence cell behavior, such as immune responses, growth factors, and the physical structure of the surrounding matrix. This directly speaks to prevention strategies for people with an inherited mutation, such as BRCA.

The microenvironment consists of the cells, molecules, and structures that surround and support other cells and tissues. It's a dynamic and complex environment that can influence how cells behave, including their growth, survival, and interactions with other cells. In cancer and other complex diseases, the microenvironment becomes skewed, favoring the growth and spread of abnormal cells. Rebalancing the microenvironment aims to restore a more balanced and supportive environment for healthy cells and to counteract the effects of disease-related changes. The entourage effect is the skillful combining of genomically informed medicine with FSM’s natural compound and lifestyle strategies by:

o   Harnessing the power of the immune system to fight cancer cells by restoring balance to immune signals. 

o   Targeting specific signaling pathways that contribute to tumor growth and metastasis. 

o   Targeting senescent cells  that can contribute to tumor progression. 

Examples:

Many natural compound remedies contain multiple phytochemicals that can target different pathways involved in cancer progression, such as inflammation (activation of the cGAS-IFN-T-cell pathways), apoptosis (programmed cell death), and angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels).

Ginseng contains ginsenosides and other saponins that contribute to its health benefits.  Research suggests that the combined effects of ginsenosides can enhance anti-cancer properties (entourage effect), such as inhibiting tumor growth and promoting apoptosis in cancer cells.

The combination of various compounds in green tea, including catechins like EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), has been shown to inhibit tumor growth through multiple mechanisms, including antioxidant activity and modulation of signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation.

Natural compounds  like resveratrol (found in grapes and berries) have been shown to inhibit specific oncogenes and activate tumor suppressor genes, providing a mechanism by which an entourage effect could potentially enhance cancer treatment based on the genetic profile of a tumor.

1.          McCulloch M, Broffman M, van der Laan M, Hubbard A, Kushi L, Kramer A, Gao J, Colford JM: Lung Cancer Survival With Herbal Medicine & Vitamins In A Whole-Systems Approach: 10-Year Follow-Up Data Analyzed With Marginal Structural Models and Propensity Score Methods. (2011). Integrative Cancer Therapies. 10(3): 260-279.

2.          McCulloch M, Broffman M, van der Laan M, Hubbard A, Kushi L, Abrams DI, Gao J, Colford JM: Colon Cancer Survival With Herbal Medicine & Vitamins In A Whole-Systems Approach: 10-Year Follow-Up Data Analyzed With Marginal Structural Models And Propensity Score Methods. (2011) Sep 30. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 10(3): 240-259.