Genomic Health announces global commercial availability of its Oncotype DX colon cancer test

Genomic Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GHDX) today announced worldwide commercial availability of its Oncotype DX® colon cancer test, the first multigene expression test developed for the assessment of risk of recurrence in patients with stage II disease.  The 12-gene advanced diagnostic test is clinically validated to predict individual recurrence risk in stage II colon cancer patients following surgery, as reported at the 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting.

"We are pleased to deliver a new model for assessing recurrence risk in patients diagnosed with stage II colon cancer that is based on rigorous scientific research conducted with our clinical collaborators at the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), the Cleveland Clinic and the QUASAR study group," said Steven Shak, M.D., chief medical officer, Genomic Health.  "We believe the availability of the Oncotype DX colon cancer test will allow physicians, for the first time, to go beyond the limited set of clinical and pathologic markers they currently use in order to make a more precise risk assessment in the treatment planning for stage II colon cancer patients."

Additionally, two new studies released online yesterday for presentation at the upcoming ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium provide further support for the use of the Oncotype DX colon cancer test as an independent predictor of recurrence risk in stage II colon cancer patients. The new results also suggest a potential role for the test in patients with stage III disease pending further study.