SALT LAKE CITY, UT USA (Press Release) - February 2, 2012 -
Myriad Genetics, Inc. announced today that a presentation entitled, “Validation of a panel of cell-cycle progression genes for improved risk-stratification in a contemporary radical prostatectomy cohort,” was presented on Thursday, February, 2, 2012 at the 2012 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. The study concluded that the Prolaris score, which analyzes the expression level of 46 cell cycle progression genes, demonstrated significant and unique prognostic ability in a contemporary cohort of men who had undergone radical prostatectomy, and accurately predicted their elevated risk for prostate cancer recurrence.
"Better risk assessment tools are needed to predict which men are more likely to have recurrence of their disease, even after undergoing aggressive, local treatment such as a radical prostatectomy," said Peter R. Carroll, M.D., M.P.H., Professor and Chair, Urology, University of California, San Francisco. "These findings demonstrate the ability of the Prolaris test either alone, or in conjunction with pathologic features, to predict which men may have an aggressive form of prostate cancer and are at an increased risk for recurrence. I believe this test will help men and healthcare providers make better-informed decisions regarding additional treatment after surgery.”
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, and Myriad, analyzed the Prolaris CCP score of 413 men’s cancers from a contemporary cohort who had undergone radical prostatectomy. They found that the Prolaris test effectively stratified men by risk of biochemical recurrence. Specifically, 100% of patients in the study with low-risk Prolaris scores did not experience disease recurrence after five years. Prostate cancer did recur in 50% of the patients in the study with high-risk Prolaris scores. Importantly, the Prolaris score was found to enhance clinical parameters currently used in risk assessment and offered independent prognostic information beyond PSA, Gleason grade, and pathologic staging. The authors concluded that the findings may help men and healthcare providers make better informed decisions regarding treatment after radical prostatectomy.
Current clinical parameters have limited ability to accurately and consistently predict prostate cancer aggressiveness at time of biopsy or the risk of disease recurrence after definitive local therapy, such as radical prostatectomy. The Prolaris test was developed to meet both of these significant unmet clinical needs in an effort to provide patients and physicians with the ability to better predict disease outcome and to thereby optimize treatment and decision making. This is the fourth study performed which analyzed the ability of the Prolaris test to be used as a prognostic and assess the aggressiveness of a man’s prostate cancer. Previous studies were performed on radical prostatectomy, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), and biopsy tissue. In every study, the Prolaris score was the strongest single predictor of prostate cancer aggressiveness.
About Myriad Genetics
Myriad Genetics, Inc. is a leading molecular diagnostic company dedicated to developing and marketing transformative tests to assess a person's risk of developing disease, guide treatment decisions and assess a patient's risk of disease progression and disease recurrence. Myriad's portfolio of nine molecular diagnostic tests are based on an understanding of the role genes play in human disease and were developed with a focus on improving an individual's decision making process for monitoring and treating disease. With fiscal year 2011 annual revenue of over $400 million and more than 1,000 employees, Myriad is working on strategic directives, including new product introductions, companion diagnostics, and international expansion, to take advantage of significant growth opportunities. For more information on how Myriad is making a difference, please visit the Company's website: www.myriad.com.
Rebecca Chambers
Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Myriad Genetics, Inc.
320 Wakara Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Tel: 801-584-1143
Cell: 801-935-1854
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