bioTheranostics, a bioMerieux company that discovers, develops and commercializes new molecular diagnostic tests in oncology, reported today findings from three studies using the company's molecular breast cancer assay to predict risk of disease recurrence in individual patients.
Data from the studies were presented this week at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).
The Theros Breast Cancer Index(SM) (BCI) is a combination of Theros H/I(SM) (HOXB13:IL17BR) and Theros MGI(SM) (Molecular Grade Index), two molecular biomarkers that refine and improve risk stratification in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, lymph node-negative breast cancer.
Data presented at the San Antonio meeting this week provide further evidence that the Theros BCI is a valuable tool for helping oncology medical professionals and patients make information-based decisions regarding breast cancer therapy.
On Thursday, Dennis Sgroi, MD, presented results from a study comparing breast cancer risk recurrence stratification by Oncotype DX versus Theros Breast Cancer Index. Dr. Sgroi and colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center and the Brigham and Womens Hospital, along with colleagues at Indiana University and University of Alabama at Birmingham, looked at tumor samples from 166 estrogen-receptor positive patients for which an Oncotype DX Recurrence Score (RS) of high, intermediate or low was previously reported. The study found that using the combined H/I-MGI biomarkers (Theros BCI) to assess risk recurrence resulted in a smaller intermediate risk group than OncoType Dx (18 percent versus 47 percent, respectively) by re-stratifying a large number of patients with an intermediate Oncotype DX recurrence score into low and high risk groups.
"We know the best way to treat early stage breast cancer patients whose risk recurrence is 'low' or 'high'," said Dr. Sgroi. "The ability to reduce the number of patients in the 'intermediate' group by reclassifying them as either 'high' or 'low' risk, making risk prediction more specific, should go a long way in helping medical professionals select the most appropriate therapy for each of their patients."