PHILADELPHIA, PA & CARLSBAD, CA — Fox Chase Cancer Center and Arima Genomics, Inc. have launched a first-of-its-kind partnership aimed at bringing advanced cancer diagnostics based on the three-dimensional structure of DNA into routine clinical care.
The collaboration seeks to move beyond conventional genetic testing by analyzing how DNA folds and interacts inside cells, a critical dimension that researchers say can reveal genomic changes often missed by standard sequencing. The approach is expected to sharpen cancer diagnosis, guide individualized treatment decisions, and accelerate research into new drug targets.
At the center of the effort is Fox Chase’s Cancer Epigenetics Institute, which will integrate Arima’s Hi-C–based technology into its diagnostic workflows for lymphoma and sarcoma. The institute will use Arima’s Aventa Lymphoma and Aventa FusionPlus tests, which are designed to detect complex gene fusions and rearrangements tied to cancer development and progression.
The agreement marks the first time a major cancer center has partnered with Arima to deploy its 3D genomics technology at clinical scale while simultaneously using it to fuel research discovery.
“This partnership represents a true bench-to-bedside translation of discovery,” said Johnathan Whetstine, director of the Cancer Epigenetics Institute. He said the collaboration has evolved from years of basic research into full clinical implementation, redefining how genome organization can inform diagnosis and treatment.
Unlike traditional DNA sequencing, which breaks genetic material into millions of fragments and loses spatial context, Arima’s platform preserves the genome’s three-dimensional architecture. Researchers say that broader view offers deeper insight into how tumors form, evolve, and resist treatment.
In peer-reviewed studies and clinical use at multiple institutions, Arima’s Aventa tests have demonstrated an ability to identify gene fusions and rearrangements that are critical to accurate diagnosis, particularly in lymphomas and sarcomas.
“Arima’s Aventa tests provide the most sensitive detection for gene fusions and rearrangements,” said Tom Willis, chief executive officer of Arima Genomics. He called Fox Chase’s decision to deploy the technology broadly a significant step toward transforming cancer care.
Under the partnership, Fox Chase will become the first institution worldwide to implement Arima’s 3D genomics testing as a standard protocol across multiple tumor types. De-identified patient response data will be collected alongside clinical use, giving researchers new opportunities to uncover patterns that could lead to future therapies.
“It allows us to see not just what genetic changes occur, but how the DNA itself is organized,” Whetstine said, adding that the information could reveal new therapeutic targets or confirm findings with greater precision.
Clinicians say the technology could be especially valuable in hard-to-treat blood cancers. “Although there have been many advances in the treatment of lymphoma, the disease often will relapse,” said Peter Abdelmessieh, assistant professor in Fox Chase’s Blood Cancer and Cellular Therapy Institute. He said access to Arima’s tools could play a key role in guiding diagnosis and treatment decisions for patients.
The partnership builds on a longstanding scientific relationship between Arima and the Cancer Epigenetics Institute, including years of collaboration and joint participation in research symposia, now culminating in what both sides describe as a new frontier for cancer diagnostics.
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