New Gene Methylation Test For Prostate Cancer Available

Main Category: Prostate / Prostate Cancer
Also Included In: Urology / Nephrology;  Genetics;  Men's health
Article Date: 17 May 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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Veridex, LLC announced that its licensing collaborator, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp), has commercially launched a new gene methylation test for prostate cancer. The new assay uses the biological specificity of 'DNA methylation' in prostate cancer, detecting the methylation of the gene GST-Pi. Methylation is a modification of DNA that occurs primarily in cancer. Veridex is developing the methylation markers in this tissue assay, GST-Pi, along with other markers, for a urine-based screening test for prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men in the U.S., with more than 230,000 cases diagnosed annually.

LabCorp licensed the methylation technology from Veridex in 2007. Veridex licensed this technology from OncoMethylome Sciences, S.A. (OMS).

About Veridex

Veridex, LLC, a Johnson & Johnson company, develops cancer diagnostic products that will enable earlier disease detection as well as more accurate staging, monitoring and therapeutic selection. The company is initially developing two complementary product lines: CellSearch(TM) assays that identify, enumerate and characterize circulating tumor cells directly from whole blood; and GeneSearch(TM) assays that use molecular technology to diagnose, stage and more accurately characterize tumors. For additional information, please visit http://www.veridex.com

Veridex, LLC
http://www.veridex.com