Epic Sciences and Collaborators to Present Six Novel Abstracts at ASCO GU Addressing the Clinical Applicability of Epic's Circulating Tumor Cell Technology in Prostate Cancer

SAN DIEGO and SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Epic Sciences, in collaboration with the company's academic and pharmaceutical partners including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Institute of Cancer Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, University of Michigan, and Progenics Pharmaceuticals, will present six novel abstracts at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary (ASCO GU) conference, taking place January 30 to February 1 in San Francisco. The studies were employed to evaluate Epic's circulating tumor cell (CTC) technology platform across several parameters in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).  These parameters include sensitivity, specificity, pharmacodynamics and heterogeneity for use in patient selection and monitoring of clinical trials.

CTCs are cells that escape from solid tumors and enter the bloodstream. Epic's CTC technology can identify, count and characterize CTCs from a blood sample.  Epic's technology represents a novel and non-invasive way to understand disease progression, metastatic risk, therapeutic selection, and therapeutic effectiveness.

"The ability to accurately quantitate and biologically characterize circulating tumor cells for drug targets and the underpinnings of tumor progression from a simple blood sample can improve our ability to assess an individual patients' cancer in real-time, enabling more personalized cancer treatments," said Howard Scher, M.D., Chief, Genitourinary Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. "Accurate diagnostic tools are needed to inform treatment selection, understand whether treatments are working, and allow us to better manage a patient's cancer."

"The questions addressed in these studies with our collaborators represent critical technical and clinical questions associated with the robustness of future oncology diagnostic solutions utilizing real-time liquid biopsies," said Murali Prahalad, Ph.D., president and CEO of Epic Sciences. "Epic's technology has an industry-leading level of sensitivity in detecting circulating tumor cells and the added benefit of enhanced molecular characterization of CTCs to develop crucial tools for better cancer management."

The six abstracts will be presented in ASCO GU General Poster Sessions A & B on January 30 and 31:

• Abstract #78:  Sequential monitoring and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using the Epic Sciences platform in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients (pts) treated with recently approved therapeutics.
• Abstract #132:  Molecular characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTC) and CTC subpopulations in progressive metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
• Abstract #177: Molecular characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) of patients with neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC).
• Abstract #198:  Heterogeneity of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression in classic and apoptotic circulating tumor cells (CTC) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
• Abstract #209: CK- and small nuclear size circulating tumor cell (CTCs) phenotypes in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
• Abstract #266:  Expression of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Epic is currently involved in 27 individual pharma-sponsored oncology clinical studies occurring around the world and is collaborating with top research centers to create new diagnostic and companion diagnostic products.

About Epic Sciences

Epic Sciences, Inc. is a privately held company that is developing new diagnostics to improve and personalize the treatment and management of cancer. Epic's mission is to provide a better way to detect cancer and to monitor and personalize cancer treatments.  Epic was founded on a powerful platform to identify and characterize rare cells, including circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Epic has partnered with leading pharmaceutical companies, major cancer centers, and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to advance its technology to improve clinical oncology and cancer therapeutic development.

For more information, please visit http://www.epicsciences.com or follow on Twitter @epicsciences.  To learn more about Epic's partnering program and clinical trial services, please email [email protected]. 

SOURCE Epic Sciences