NeoGenomics, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEO), a leading provider of cancer-focused genetic and molecular testing services, announced today that it has validated and launched a series of NeoTYPE cancer profiling tests covering 22 different categories of cancer. Each of these tests is designed to investigate the most common and actionable genomic abnormalities reported for that particular tumor.
The 22 categories of tumors covered in this series of tests are: brain, lung, breast, cervix, colorectal, endometrium, esophagus, stomach, ovary, soft tissue, thyroid, GIST (gastro intestinal stromal tumors), melanoma, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), AML favorable-risk, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), lymphoma, juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), cancer not-otherwise specified, and spliceosomal abnormalities. The genetic abnormalities are investigated using the most reliable technology including sequencing, Fluorescent In-Situ Hybridization (FISH), methylation analysis, fragment length analysis and SNP-cytogenetic array technology.
Although more than 60 different genes are investigated in all these tumors, only 8 - 18 genes are investigated per patient or tumor type. For each type of cancer, we selected the key driver genes that are central to confirming diagnosis, predicting prognosis, determining or monitoring therapy, and exploring clinical trials options. In many cases, these driver genes can also be targeted for therapy.
Doug VanOort, the company's Chairman and CEO, said "Precision medicine requires precision testing. Our targeted tests are responsive to the need for both comprehensive testing in complex cases and the need to be cost sensitive for patients and insurance companies. Therefore, we are launching these tests on both a "comprehensive" and a "concise" basis. We believe this flexibility will meet the needs of the scientific community and our clients."
Dr. Maher Albitar, the Company's Chief Medical Officer and Director of Research and Development, commented, "Classifying cancers based on their morphology and site of origin is no longer adequate for the practice of evidence-based medicine. Our molecular profiling testing is a reliable and concise approach to sub-classifying these tumors based on their underlying driving biology. This enables clinicians to better manage and treat their patients. Our testing is designed to find actionable molecular abnormalities without testing hundreds of genes."
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