Center for Molecular Medicine Partners with AviaraDx to Offer New Cancer Tests to Aid Physicians in Personalizing Treatment
Tests Improve Cancer Identification, Help Physicians Develop More Specific
Prognosis
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 3 /PRNewswire/ — The Center for Molecular
Medicine (CMM) today announced an agreement with San Diego-based bioTheranostics
to support three new tests that help physicians personalize cancer
treatment.
The bioTheranostics tests can provide physicians greater understanding of the
molecular biology underlying patients’ tumors. These test results will help
physicians make more informed decisions in managing their oncology
patients.
Under the agreement, CMM will educate physicians on the value and
clinical utility of the tests, and coordinate quality-controlled sample
preparation and shipping. Analysis of the tumor samples will be handled by
bioTheranostics in California — a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory.
Three tests are available: CancerTYPE IDSM, H/ISM (HOXB13/IL17BR)
and MGISM (Molecular Grade Index). The CancerTYPE ID test provides a
molecular classification of metastatic cancer, pinpointing the tumor’s
organ of origin which has important treatment ramifications and can be
problematic in a small but significant number of cases. The H/I test
measures a two-gene expression signature and is an independent predictor of
treatment outcome for breast cancer patients receiving endocrine therapy;
the information may be used by physicians to more rationally make the
decision about how aggressively to treat, or not treat, against recurrence.
Lastly, the MGI test is a five-gene tumor grade signature which
discriminates between tumor grades 1 and 3 and is able to reclassify Grade
2 tumors as Grade-1 like and Grade 3-like; many breast tumors are graded as
intermediate (Grade 2), which is not clinically useful for the treating
oncologist.
“bioTheranostics tests are excellent examples of the genomic revolution in
medicine. Test results offer physicians and their patients information they
can use in diagnosing, treating and managing cancer. Identification of the
site of origin of a metastatic tumor is a thorny problem in a small but
significant portion of metastatic cancer cases. The H/I test for endocrine
resistance is a great tool for considering aggressiveness of treatment for
ER+, node negative breast cancer patients,” said CMM Executive Director Dr.
Daniel H. Farkas. “We are very pleased to be one of the first labs in the
nation to partner with bioTheranostics, and have already received an enthusiastic
response from area oncologists on the use of these tests.”
“H/I and MGI represent molecular biomarkers that can be used to better
stratify ER+, node-negative breast cancer patients into low, intermediate
and high risk groups,” states Dr. Antonius Schuh, CEO of bioTheranostics. “By
measuring discrete markers for endocrine resistance, H/I, and proliferation
status we can greatly improve the physicians’ ability to select the
appropriate level of treatment for each individual patient. We are pleased
to make this testing available through CMM to the patients and physicians
of West Michigan.”
The addition of the bioTheranostics cancer tests are an important complement
to the Veridex CellSearch™ tests also offered at CMM. While the bioTheranostics
tests will typically be used in the earlier stages of a patient’s diagnosis
and treatment, the CellSearch System helps physicians more effectively
manage patients with more advanced metastatic colorectal, breast and
prostate cancer.
About the CMM
The Center for Molecular Medicine, a joint venture between Grand
Rapids, Mich.-based Spectrum Health and Van Andel Institute (VAI), brings
West Michigan a cutting-edge laboratory that will aid in early diagnoses
and enhance personalized medicine. It offers 21st century molecular
technologies for investigation of complex diseases like cancer, heart
disease, mental illness and other conditions at the DNA, RNA and protein
levels. The Center brings new and increased opportunities for diagnostics
and pharmaceutical companies to conduct trials in a world-class medical and
clinical research environment. For more information, visit http://www.cmmdx.org.
About bioTheranostics
bioTheranostics is focused on developing and commercializing molecular
diagnostic technologies for personalized medicine in cancer treatment. The
company is targeting the oncology market with three first-in-class
molecular cancer profiling technologies: CancerTYPE ID, Breast Cancer
Profiling (H/I and MGI), Prostate Cancer Prognosis (PCP) and Prediction of
Drug Response (PDR). bioTheranostics has licensed some of its technologies for
specific clinical indications to reference laboratories in the United
States and Europe.
bioTheranostics Contacts
Tim Schofield
Tel: 1 858 587 5887
tim.schofield@biotheranostics.com
Michele Parisi
Tel : 1 925 864 5028
mparisi@biocommnetwork.com
SOURCE Center for Molecular Medicine
+1 (877) 886-6739 client services
