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Epigenomics AG Delivers Clinical Proof-of-Concept for Lung Cancer Detection
By Trevor | June 27, 2007
Epigenomics AG (Frankfurt:ECX) today announced that it has procured positive results from a clinical trial investigating the feasibility of a test to detect patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The program aims at developing a blood based test for the reliable and convenient early detection of lung cancer. In an initial study last year Epigenomics identified numerous candidate DNA methylation biomarkers that appear in lung tumors, but not in normal lung tissue. The objective of this most recent study, run in cooperation with the Department of Pneumology at the Charite in Berlin headed by Prof. Dr. Christian Witt, was to show that the most promising candidate biomarker identified previously can also be detected in blood plasma of lung cancer patients. This is an important prerequisite for developing a convenient blood based early detection test for this cancer. The study was carried out on a group of patients with either lung cancer or benign lung disease. The study came to the result that the most promising candidate biomarker detects patients with lung cancer, and differentiates them from individuals with positive computer tomography (CT) due to non-cancerous lung diseases. Based on this proprietary novel DNA methylation biomarker and the encouraging results, Epigenomics will continue the development of its lung cancer screening test. With these results in lung cancer, Epigenomics has achieved clinical proof-of-concept in the third major cancer indication, after successful clinical studies in colorectal cancer and prostate cancer screening programs.
Lung cancer is responsible for approximately 1.3 million deaths worldwide annually, and accounts for the most deaths of any cancer. Epigenomics notes that most lung cancer patients are currently diagnosed when their disease is advanced, and nealy 90 percent die within two years. An effective blood-based screening test for lung cancer would be a tremendous advance for aiding in the early detection and improved treatment options for lung cancer patients. Link
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Topics: cancer |
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