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Epigenomics' biomarker predicts likelihood of breast cancer relapse, study says
By Lisa Kerner
Erie, Pa., March 10 - Epigenomics AG said its latest study confirmed the prognostic value of its proprietary PITX2 DNA methylation biomarker in early stage breast cancer.
The study was conducted in 395 patients with lymph node-positive cancers, according to a company news release. All patients were treated with an adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimen and the study endpoint was metastasis-free survival.
As a single marker, PITX2 methylation identified two-thirds of the patients as belonging to the good prognosis group, where the likelihood of remaining metastasis-free for at least 10 years was 62%.
Patients in the poor prognosis group had only a 43% chance of remaining metastasis-free for 10 years.
Epigenomics said previous studies demonstrated a correlation between the presence of low levels of PITX2 gene methylation and a low risk of metastasis development in prostate cancer patients and in patients with a less aggressive form of breast cancer.
"At present, a lot of breast cancer patients are treated with chemotherapy although they have a low risk of developing metastases," chief executive officer Alexander Olek said in the release.
"However, this group is difficult to identify, so many are treated just for precautionary reasons. Our ultimate goal is to develop a test to find these patients and to provide doctors and patients with the necessary confidence that they don't need to administer chemotherapy."
Epigenomics is a molecular diagnostic company with a focus on the development of novel products for cancer. The company is based in Berlin and operates a wholly owned subsidiary in Seattle.
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