IRVINE, CA and AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, February 27, 2014– A scientific poster and lunch symposium at the upcoming Miami Breast Cancer Conference will focus new attention on genomic testing and molecular subtyping to refine breast cancer treatment.
The poster by Steven C. Shivers, PhD., Charles E. Cox, M.D., et al. reports emerging data about molecular subtyping of early-stage breast cancer and patients’ risk of disease recurrence. These new findings expand upon a scientific poster presented at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
The poster, which will be presented during a session beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6 in the General Session Room of the conference hotel, is titled “Molecular subtypes of cases discordant between risk classification assays in patients with ER+, N0-N1 breast cancer.” Dr. Cox is a well known breast surgeon and CEO at the University of South Florida’s Breast Health Clinical and Research Integrated Strategic Program.
Dr. Cox will also chair a lunchtime symposium the following day at noon, Friday, March 7, titled “Molecular Subtypes: Clinical Implications for Breast Cancer Patients in Your Practice.” The featured speaker at the non-CME symposium sponsored by Agendia will be Massimo Cristofanilli, M.D., a noted oncologist.
Recent studies by Dr. Cristofanilli and others have concluded that molecular subtyping provides a more precise prognosis and gives physicians valuable guidance about the best treatment course for early-stage breast cancer. Dr. Cristofanilli is a leading researcher on genomic testing and molecular subtyping. He directs the Breast Care Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, in Philadelphia.
Agendia’s BluePrint® molecular diagnostics assay is the most widely available test providing molecular subtyping of individual breast cancers. It is performed as part of the Symphony® test panel. Symphony also includes MammaPrint®, the fastest-growing risk-recurrence assay for breast cancer and the only one providing risk recurrence information that is based on prospective trials including patient outcome data (e.g., the RASTER study).
MammaPrint provides definitive High Risk or Low Risk information about breast cancer recurrence, without ambiguous “intermediate” results. The BluePrint test, building on the foundational prognostic precision of MammaPrint, classifies breast cancer into one of four molecular subtypes: Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-type, and Basal-type. BluePrint also provides information about neoadjuvant chemosensitivity (that is, responsiveness to chemotherapy) more accurately than does an IHC/FISH assessment. The Agendia tests have substantial insurance coverage encompassing an estimated 170 million lives and including coverage by Medicare and regional and national insurers.
The Miami Breast Cancer Conference will be held Thursday, March 6, through Sunday, March 9, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel, in Miami Beach, Fla.
About Agendia:
Agendia is a leading molecular diagnostic company that develops and markets FFPE-based genomic diagnostic products, which help support physicians with their complex treatment decisions. Agendia’s breast cancer Symphony suite was developed using unbiased gene selection, analyzing the complete human genome, ensuring 100% definitive results for cancer patients. Symphony includes MammaPrint, the first FDA-cleared IVDMIA breast cancer recurrence assay, as well as BluePrint, a molecular subtyping assay, and TargetPrint®, an ER/PR/HER2 expression assay. Together, these tests help physicians determine a patient’s individual risk for metastasis, which patients will benefit from chemo, hormonal, or combination therapy, and which patients do not require these treatments and can instead be treated with other, less arduous and less costly methods.
In addition to the Symphony suite of tests, Agendia has a rich pipeline of genomic products in development. The company collaborates with pharmaceutical companies, leading cancer centers and academic groups to develop companion diagnostic tests in the area of oncology and is a critical partner in the ISPY-2 and MINDACT trials. For more information, visit www.agendia.com.
Contact:
Liz Dowling (Medical & Consumer Media)
Dowling & Dennis Public Relations
415-388-2794
Liz@DowlingDennis.net
Len Hall (Financial Media)
Allen & Caron Inc. 949-474-4300
