REDWOOD CITY, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 05/28/09 -- Genomic Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: GHDX)
today announced an important milestone in reaching a total of more than
100,000 patients with its Oncotype
DX® breast cancer test since the test became available in 2004.
Oncotype DX is the first and only gene expression test clinically validated
to predict the likelihood of a patient's benefit from chemotherapy, as well
as risk of disease recurrence.
"At Genomic Health, we are dedicated to changing the way cancer is
diagnosed and treated by providing patients and their physicians with
individualized genomic information that
can empower them to better manage their disease," said Kim
Popovits, president and CEO, Genomic Health. "With more than 100,000
patients having now benefited from information provided by our Oncotype DX
test, it is encouraging to see personalized treatment decisions becoming
standard practice for early-stage breast cancer patients. We look forward
to continuing our work in bringing this approach to clinical practice for
other cancers."
Oncotype DX examines a breast cancer patient's tumor tissue at a molecular
level. The test determines the level of activity of 21 specific genes
within a tumor and provides an individualized result known as a Recurrence Score® for women with
early-stage breast cancer. The Recurrence Score result correlates with
the likelihood that a patient's breast cancer will
return and also indicates whether they are likely to benefit from
chemotherapy.
"I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 and after a double-mastectomy,
I was at a loss at how to move forward with treatment. I wanted to
understand what treatment would be most beneficial to my individual
disease," said Katherine Young, podiatrist, certified ski instructor
and the first woman to benefit from Oncotype DX. "The Oncotype DX test
informed me that I had a low Recurrence Score, which gave me reassurance
that I could avoid chemotherapy without increasing my risk of recurrence,
ultimately allowing me to maintain my energetic, active lifestyle."
In addition to the widely adopted Oncotype DX breast cancer test, Genomic
Health is preparing to launch the Oncotype DX colon cancer test in early 2010.
