Ann Arbor-based Genetics Squared Inc., a privately owned biotechnology company, will present its ongoing research to develop an accurate and cost-effective prognostic test for early stage colorectal cancer at the 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. on May 31. Dr. Peter Lenehan, Chief Medical Officer of the firm, will present.
The test consists of a four-gene molecular signature of the primary tumor that should help clinicians better decide which early stage colorectal cancer patients should receive chemotherapy after surgery.
Using fixed tissue that is routinely obtained during colorectal cancer surgery, expression profiling of the 4 genes is accomplished using the novel DASL methodology by Illumina rather than RT-PCR analysis that is commonly used by other companies developing molecular diagnostics.
Validation studies, to date, demonstrate that stage I/II colorectal cancer patients classified by the test as 'high risk' for recurrence within three years after surgery are nearly 12 times more likely to actually recur within that time period than those classified as 'low risk', reflecting an accuracy of 88%.
"While we know that most patients with stage I and II colorectal cancer are cured by surgery alone, a significant portion will have a recurrence of the cancer," said Dr. Lenehan, Chief Medical Officer. "Using the DASL assay together with our proprietary Evolver data analysis technology, we were able to develop a concise predictive rule that performs significantly better than currently available prognostic tools that are based solely on traditional clinicopathologic staging. The high degree of accuracy is a milestone in the development of molecular diagnostics."
The company plans commercial release of the test in early 2010.
Genetics Squared is privately held and focused on advancing personalized medicine by providing diagnostic and prognostic test development, optimization, and commercialization services through its own laboratory facilities. The company uses its Evolver technology to develop proprietary molecular signatures that help physicians tailor medical management strategies to individual patients and, thereby, improve clinical outcome. Although this technology is especially well suited for clinical oncology, it has also been applied in other areas of clinical and preclinical biomedical research, including infectious diseases and organ transplantation.
For more information, visit www.genetics2.com.
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