Study: PreGen-Plus Helps Detect Early Colorectal Cancer

A tudy of PreGen-Plus, a non-invasive genomics-based screening test, has found it more effective than fecal occult blood tests for detecting colorectal cancer and also detecting advanced precancerous growths known as adenomas, according to Exact Sciences Corp.

"Not only were we able to confirm the ability of PreGen-Plus to detect early-stage cancer in a group of more than 50 cancer patients, but we also were encouraged by our ability to detect advanced adenomas," said Dr. Michael Ross, Vice President of Clinical Affairs..

"Although the number of patients with advanced adenomas was small, the results provide us with a strong basis for going forward with additional applied research and clinical efforts focusing on the detection of adenomas," he added.

Unlike current first-line screening techniques such as colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and virtual colonoscopy, the PreGen approach requires only a stool sample for analysis in a laboratory.

"We are particularly excited about the demonstrated ability of PreGen-Plus in this study to detect early-stage cancers and precancerous adenomas," said Don Hardison, Exact Sciences CEO.

"No other non-invasive colorectal cancer screening test available today has indicated similar sensitivities for early-stage disease, and it is detection at these stages that is the key both to curing colorectal cancer and eradicating the mortality associated with the disease."

Other Sources: Exact Sciences