Helomics® Launches GeneFx® Colon to Identify Patients with High Risk Stage II Colon Cancer
Proprietary Microarray-based gene signature marker identifies
patients’ recurrence risk within five years after surgery and guides
adjuvant chemotherapy treatment decisions
PITTSBURGH & LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Helomics®
Corporation, a privately-held, personalized healthcare company that
provides comprehensive tumor profiling utilizing proprietary
tissue-based live cell and fixed cell products and services, announced
today the launch of GeneFx® Colon, a prognostic multi-gene expression
assay designed to identify colon cancer patients who are likely to
experience recurrence within five years following initial surgery.
GeneFx Colon is designed to enable physicians to make informed
personalized treatment decisions about potentially adding adjuvant
chemotherapy.
GeneFx Colon is a proprietary gene signature test utilizing an
individual patient’s RNA expression and a complex proprietary algorithm.
GeneFx Colon is performed on a small amount of tumor tissue, which is
removed during surgery or a biopsy, with results available within the
average time period for recovery post-surgery. The lab analysis produces
a binary test result that categorizes patients as being at either high
or low risk of having a tumor recurrence within five years of surgery.
Along with the clinical and pathological assessments, GeneFx Colon
provides a clear result for risk of recurrence that can help guide
physicians with decisions regarding the use of adjuvant therapy in
patients with colon cancer.
Neil J. Campbell, President & CEO of Helomics, said, “The GeneFx Colon
microarray-based gene signature assay is a strong addition to our
portfolio of comprehensive tumor profiling technologies that use both
tissue-based live and fixed cell analysis to guide oncology treatment
decisions. Our plans are to expand our proprietary offering in the areas
of colon cancer. GeneFx Colon analyzes the expression of more than 480
genes, as compared with competitor tests that analyze fewer than 20, to
provide the most comprehensive tumor evaluation available. In addition,
the clinical utility of GeneFx Colon has been established by five
peer-reviewed multi-center prospective and retrospective controlled
studies, which showed that use of GeneFx Colon was associated with a
significant improvement in patient outcomes measured in terms of overall
survival and recurrence-free survival. Based on these studies, we are
confident that GeneFx Colon can offer oncologists and patients
unprecedented insights when making colon cancer treatment decisions.”
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality among men
and women in the United States. The five-year survival rate for
individuals with colon cancer is 64.9%. About 80% of colon cancer
patients will be cured from surgery alone, however the other 20% of
patients will have tumor recurrence. Recurrence in colon cancer arises
from micro-metastases that are not observed or visible during primary
treatment. Improving risk stratification has great potential benefit for
patient care in stage II colon cancer.
About Helomics® Corporation, Inc.
Helomics® is a comprehensive personalized healthcare company, bringing
the next generation of diagnostics to the oncology field. Helomics is
dedicated to improving patient outcomes by providing a personalized
comprehensive tumor profile utilizing a proprietary set of laboratory
platforms that leverage both tissue-based live and fixed cellular based
analysis allowing physicians to characterize malignant tumors on a
personalized basis. Helomics’ novel molecular and cellular markers and
bioinformatics services support treatment decisions by providing vital
information based on the specific biological processes of each
individual’s cancer. Helomics is headquartered in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania where the company maintains two CLIA-certified
laboratories. For more information please visit: www.helomics.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties. Market conditions and other important factors could
cause actual results to differ materially from those communicated in any
forward-looking statements, information disclosed in presentations,
conference calls or other public venues. We do not intend to update any
forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.
Contacts
Tiberend
Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Investors
Joshua Drumm,
Ph.D., 212-375-2664
jdrumm@tiberend.com
or
Media
Claire
Sojda, 212-375-2686
csojda@tiberend.com
