Epigenomics' biomarkers indicate severity of prostate cancer, study says

By Angela McDaniels

Seattle, Jan 4 - Epigenomics AG said a study has validated three of its proprietary DNA methylation markers as clinically useful indicators of prostate cancer aggressiveness.

"Interestingly, the marker which performed best in this study was our proprietary PITX2 biomarker, which was initially identified for its prognostic value in breast cancer," chief scientific officer Kurt Berlin said in a company news release.

The study used 605 paraffin-embedded prostate cancer samples obtained during surgery for radical removal of the prostate between 1993 and 2000 at three centers in the United States. The three markers were able to identify patients with a bad prognosis that are possibly under-treated but may benefit from adjuvant treatment after surgery, the company said.

Since the markers also have the capability to identify a group with very good prognosis, they could be used to identify patients for whom radical prostate surgery would be unnecessary.

Additionally, Epigenomics said two markers provided more information than can be obtained from currently available prognostic factors such as Gleason score, tumor stage and pre-surgery levels of prostate specific antigen. In particular, treatment planning and prognosis is most uncertain for patients with an intermediate Gleason score of 7, for which the company said its markers identified a large subgroup with very good prognosis.

"The inclusion of such molecular markers to the routine could be of great help when clinicians and patients need to decide on further treatment strategies after surgery. Furthermore, if the markers show to be prognostic at the diagnostic biopsy stage, they could lead to a profound change in prostate cancer management," Thomas M. Wheeler of the Baylor College of Medicine said in the release.

Epigenomics also said that the prostate cancer molecular classification test was being developed as part of a collaboration with Roche Diagnostics, but that Roche Diagnostics has decided to discontinue the collaboration and to drop their option rights to an exclusive license.

Epigenomics is a molecular diagnostic company with a focus on the development of novel products for cancer. The company has its headquarters in Berlin and a wholly owned subsidiary in Seattle.

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