DiaTech Oncology MiCK Chemotherapy Induced Apoptosis Assay Shows Increased Response and Survival in Ovarian Cancer Patients

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 26 /PRNewswire/ -- DiaTech Oncology announced today that the American Society of Cancer Oncology (ASCO) has published the results of a comprehensive study to determine the effectiveness of the Microculture Kinetic (MiCK) assay for apoptosis in predicting increased response and survival rates for ovarian cancer patients. In the MiCK assay, the tumor cells of an individual patient are exposed to multiple doses of several chemotherapeutic drugs either as single drugs or in combinations. A sophisticated algorithm is used to monitor and compute the amounts of apoptosis caused by each of the drugs to establish a drug sensitivity profile of the patient's tumor cells. Knowledge of a patient's drug sensitivity profile allows the treating oncologists to prescribe chemotherapy that would be the most effective against the tumor cells of that patient.

The results showed overall survival significantly better in 92% of patients who received the best chemotherapy as predicted by the MiCK assay compared to only 76% of patients who received treatment not recommended by the assay. There was also a significantly higher overall response rate (82% vs. 54%) for patients who received a treatment the assay showed would be preferred. Ovarian cancer patients in stage 3 or 4 and treated with a highly active assay score had significantly increased survival rates (94% vs. 77% alive at 24 months). The clinical benefit rate was 85% for patients with chemotherapy that was highly active in the assay, compared to only 57% for those patients receiving less active chemotherapy.  

In addition to response and survival rates the study showed that single drug therapy produced better results than combination chemotherapy drug treatments in approximately 30% of patients. Less expensive generic drug therapy was at least equally effective compared to more expensive proprietary drugs in 75% of patients.

"The impressive and statistically significant survival and response data in this study show that the DiaTech MiCK assay can be an effective tool for oncologists in determining the best chemotherapy treatment for a cancer patient," said Dr. Emery Salom, Chief Dept. of OB/GYN, Palmetto General Hospital; Assistant Professor, Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

"It is also important to note the data provided guidance on generic drug use and single vs. combination therapies," said Dr. Cary Presant, Medical Director, DiaTech Oncology; Professor of Medicine, University of Southern California. "This is good news for ovarian cancer patients and is clearly a major step to provide more effective personalized care, and often less expensive and less toxic treatment of cancer patients."

"We are able to arm the physician with effective tools capable of eliminating a patient's cancer cells or keeping tumor cells under effective control. This technology helps physicians prolong their patient's life. Other studies we have completed clearly demonstrate the MiCK assay works in all cancers and we are in discussion with several large insurers to obtain reimbursement approvals and make sure this technology is available to patients," said Garry Latimer, DiaTech CEO and Founder.

DiaTech Oncology is a privately held clinical pathology laboratory working to help oncologists and their patients deal with the devastating effects of cancer. DiaTech utilizes a patented technology called the Microculture Kinetic (MiCK) assay. The MiCK assay is the only test available that measures the chemotherapeutic drug effect for a specific patient kinetically and accurately.

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SOURCE DiaTech Oncology