Information for Oncologists
What is the PARIS® Test?
No two cancers—and no two patients—are the same. If you are looking for a tool to help make difficult clinical decisions the PARIS® Test can provide important insights.
Cure First is the only laboratory in the United States performing a CLIA certified high-throughput, high-complexity functional drug response test: The PARIS® Test
The PARIS® Test is a functional precision medicine test and clinical decision support tool designed to help physicians evaluate potential therapies for patients. It is designed with standard of care treatments in mind to help avoid trial and error choices that waste precious time.
The test uses a live tumor biopsy (or fluid collection) from a patient’s cancer to evaluate how that individual’s tumor cells respond to a broad range of anti-cancer therapies outside the body, providing functional insight to inform treatment planning. Combining these results with advanced genomic analysis, the PARIS® Test can help uncover vulnerabilities that may not be revealed through standard testing alone.
The test can be performed on any type of solid tumors such as Pancreatic, Breast, Ovarian, Prostate, Colon, Gastric, Small Bowel, Liver and Biliary Tract, Lung, Head and Neck Cancer, Sarcomas, Glioblastoma, other Brain cancers, Rare Cancers, Metastatic cancers and more (not blood cancers or lymphoma).
Cure First is dedicated to making functional precision medicine accessible to cancer patients.
To learn more, please contact our clinical team at
How the PARIS® Test Works
The PARIS® Test begins with a live tumor sample collected during a clinically indicated biopsy, surgery, or fluid extraction. Once the sample arrives at Cure First's CLIA-certified laboratory, our scientists generate patient-derived 3D tumor models.
These models are screened against a personalized panel of up to 47 anticancer agents chosen from our 200+ drug library which includes targeted agents, Antibody Drug Conjugates and chemotherapies. This personalized panel is determined with physician input to target known genomics alterations and include past and future treatment options.
Using proprietary scoring metrics, the PARIS® Test measures drug activity and ranks them according to effectiveness.
The PARIS® Test is intended to complement next-generation sequencing (NGS) and other diagnostic tools to help identify possible treatment options.
Personalized: We are testing the drugs on your very own cancer cells.
Aimed: We find the Achilles’ heel specific to your cancer.
Robotic testing allows us to rapidly test hundreds of drugs.
Informatics: The large amount of data derived from your tumor is analyzed and carefully prepared for your oncologist.
Sequenced: Deep DNA sequencing helps determine which mutations are driving a patient’s cancer and should be targeted.
WHY THE PARIS® Test IS IMPORTANT FOR Patient CARE
It is better than DNA sequencing alone. While DNA sequencing may indicate an actionable potential treatment in ~20% of cases; the PARIS® Test has shown >90% actionability.
Conducting the PARIS® Test before starting treatment can guide more directly to the most effective options for your patient’s specific tumor; avoiding other treatments that may be less effective or cause unnecessary side effects.
If the cancer has recurred after treatment, or progressed during treatment, the PARIS® Test allows preparation for a possible second line treatment - a plan B option.
If the cancer is rare, metastatic, or at high-risk of recurrence the PARIS® Test can provide more options for consideration.
While the PARIS® Test can help inform treatment decisions, it does not guarantee a specific outcome or response.
Eligibility criteria
CURE-FIRST’S TEAM OF CLINICAL COORDINATORS SUPPORTS THE ENTIRE PROCESS; ASSISTING WITH PRE-SCREENING, ELIGIBILITY CONFIRMATION AND SAMPLE LOGISTICS
Cure First requires ideally 1 week advanced notice (minimum 48 hours) prior to your procedure date. This allows time for you/your provider to receive our sample collection kit, fill out all required forms, and receive instructions for best sample quality. It also allows time for discussions with your oncologists and care team.
The PARIS® test requires a three-week washout period from any therapy (exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis).
The PARIS® test requires fresh, live tissue (not fixed or frozen) obtained via biopsy or surgical excision OR fresh liquid collections (such as ascites or pleural effusion) .
The test requires a minimum of 4 core biopsies, 1 cm3 of surgical tissue, or 250ml of fluids.
Procedures should be scheduled from Monday through Thursday only, so they can be received during normal lab operating hours.
The PARIS® Test Cannot be Performed on:
Fine Needle Aspirate biopsies
Bone biopsies
Old/Frozen/Fixed samples (must be fresh)
Insufficient sample size
Results and Interpretation
Test results are delivered directly to the treating physicians with an average turnaround time of 3 weeks. Results are displayed in a comprehensive, CLIA-compliant clinical report.
The report ranks therapies based on tumor response using the categories:
Exceptional
Good
Moderate
Low
Cure First's scientific team is available to:
Review and explain PARIS® Test results with treating physicians
Consult directly with broader oncology care teams
Participate in molecular tumor boards to support interpretation and care planning
More ways to collaborate with us!
Cure-First is highly interested in collaborating with you.
Joining/ initiating Clinical trials
Testing investigational/ off-label use drugs
Advancing drugs toward approval, in-vitro drug trials
Setting up an on-going collaboration for multiple patients
Collaborating on publications involving our test
Building partnerships with cancer centers and research groups to grow our impact
If you are interested in collaborating with Cure First in a clinical or research capacity, please email admin@cure-first.org
case reports: the real-world impact of the PARIS® Test
To learn more download our brochure here