bioTheranostics launches CancerTYPE ID database and KRAS mutational testing

Mar 5 2010

bioTheranostics, a bioMerieux company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative molecular diagnostic tests in oncology, announces the launch of an expanded tumor-type database for its flagship product, CancerTYPE ID®, and the launch of KRAS mutational testing.

CancerTYPE ID predicts cancer origin in patients whose primary cancer was initially "unknown or uncertain" using conventional diagnostics. Knowing the site where the cancer originated impacts physicians' therapeutic decisions, and the results of the CancerTYPE ID assay can help physicians select optimal therapies earlier in the diagnostic process.

The larger CancerTYPE ID database allows for an increase of reportable tumor types from 39 to 54, while maintaining overall accuracy. Specificity across all tumor types remains high at >99 percent. This new database enhances the ability of the CancerTYPE ID assay to discriminate between clinically relevant metastatic tumors occurring within the GI tract, head and neck, lung (squamous, non-squamos adenocarcinoma, and mesothelioma), and intestine, while incorporating coverage of certain tumor types that frequently present diagnostic challenges such as cholangiocarcinoma, ovarian-mucinous adenocarcinoma, and small intestinal carcinoma.  

In tissue samples for which CancerTYPE ID returns a positive result for colorectal cancer, the availability of KRAS, a companion diagnostic test for anti-EGFR therapy, enables medical professionals to obtain additional valuable information and make individualized treatment decisions. KRAS will also be offered as a stand-alone test.

"Since the CancerTYPE ID molecular classifier became available two years ago, we've carefully tracked both our customer feedback and our own clinical laboratory experience to identify important, emerging diagnostic opportunities," said Richard Ding, bioTheranostics' chief executive officer. "The addition of these new tumor types and the KRAS assay are significant steps in addressing the evolving needs of our customers and making the CancerTYPE ID assay the leading molecular solution for clinicians and patients."

SOURCE bioTheranostics