Meta-Analysis Confirms Link Between Epigenetic Changes and Prostate Cancer, Reports MDxHealth

  • Detection of epigenetic changes could provide better diagnosis and disease management
  • Analysis published in leading urology journal, The Prostate
  • MDxHealth’s Prostate ConfirmMDxTM test helps identify men with suspected prostate cancer avoid unnecessary repeat biopsies

IRVINE, Calif. & LIEGE, BELGIUM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

The discovery of effective biomarkers in cancer will have a significant impact on disease management. With the role of the blood-based prostate cancer biomarker PSA (prostate specific antigen) surrounded by controversy, new and more effective biomarkers of this leading cause of death in men are urgently needed. Epigenetic changes are closely linked to cancer and hold promise for prostate cancer diagnosis and management, the authors of a meta-analysis, published online in the leading urology journal, The Prostate (The Epigenetic promise for prostate cancer diagnosis. The Prostate. doi: 10.1002/pros.22459), have concluded.

Scientists at MDxHealth SA (NYSE Euronext: MDXH), a leading molecular diagnostics company in the field of personalized cancer treatment, conducted the research in collaboration with leading experts at Johns Hopkins University (USA) and Ghent University (Belgium). The meta-analysis included more than 30 independent, peer reviewed studies involving epigenetic changes in prostate cancer that have reported a consistently high sensitivity and specificity of GSTP1 gene hypermethylation in prostatectomy or biopsy tissue. GSTP1 has been widely studied in prostate cancer.

“The analysis revealed that DNA methylation detection is more sensitive than PSA testing and urine-based PCA-3 testing in identifying patients at risk for prostate cancer. This clearly shows that the use of epigenetic biomarkers holds tremendous promise for the early-diagnosis and prognosis of the disease, as confirmed in other studies,” noted Prof. Dr. Wim van Criekinge, Chief Scientific Officer of MDxHealth.

MDxHealth, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, Cleveland Clinic, University of California Los Angeles, Lahey Clinic and Eastern Virginia Medical School, is currently conducting a multi-center clinical validation trial with its Prostate ConfirmMDx test featuring an expanded biomarker gene panel that includes GSTP1 and enhanced DNA extraction technology. The results of this confirmatory trial are expected in H1 2012.

About MDxHealth

MDxHealth is a leading molecular diagnostics company that develops and commercializes oncology-based molecular diagnostic testing for personalized medicine. The company’s tests are based on proprietary gene methylation technology and assist physicians with the diagnosis of cancer, prognosis of recurrence risk, and prediction of response to a specific therapy. For more information visit the MDxHealth website at www.mdxhealth.com.

Industry Report, MDxHealth is profiled in the latest PWC Diagnostics 2011 report. The report highlights the company’s focus on clinical and pharmaco diagnostic products based on their proprietary epigenetic platform. Details of the report can be found on the PWC website (http://www.pwc.com/diagnostics2011).

Biotech Showcase, January 9-11, San Francisco – Dr. Jan Groen will be presenting on Wednesday January 11 at 11:30 at the Biotech Showcase conference. Parties interested in meeting can contact Dr. Groen at the following [email protected].

This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the anticipated future performance of MDxHealth and the market in which it operates. Such statements and estimates are based on assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable but may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict, may depend upon factors that are beyond the Company’s control, and may turn out to be materially different. MDxHealth expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this release to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based unless required by law or regulation



CONTACT:

MDxHealth
Dr. Jan Groen, CEO
+32 4 364 20 70
[email protected]
or
Halsin Partners
Mike Sinclair
+44 20 7318 2955
[email protected]

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INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Health  Clinical Trials  Genetics  Oncology  Other Health

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