Los Angeles, California – June 12, 2017 — Today EntroGen Inc. announced that it has entered into a clinical collaboration with University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center to conduct an observational study to determine the clinical utility of EntroGen’s liquid biopsy solutions for lung cancer patients. The year-long study will assess and monitor the levels of EGFR activating and resistance mutations in the blood of patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer who are undergoing EGFR TKI therapy.
EntroGen’s ctEGFR test is a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that identifies EGFR TKI sensitizing and acquired resistance mutations from as little as one milliliter of plasma. The test utilizes proprietary technology to enable ultra-sensitive detection of mutant variants on a background of normal circulating cell-free DNA.
“The use of liquid biopsy technologies to monitor cancer patients is essential to deliver modern care that reflects the changes that occur in tumors while under treatment. Having the most sensitive technology means that we don’t miss those key changes in the cancer that require a change in treatment,” said Dr. Jorge Nieva, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and the principle investigator of the study.
“We are excited to collaborate with one of the top cancer centers in the nation to develop solutions for this devastating disease. Simple and cost-effective means of detecting disease progression are essential for routine monitoring and helps clinicians guide treatment based on the presence of molecular markers,” said Dr. Gary Potikyan, the Chief Science Officer of EntroGen.
About EntroGen
Based in Los Angeles, California, EntroGen (http://www.entrogen.com) is a biotechnology company with a focus on molecular diagnostic products in the areas of hematology and oncology. EntroGen has a growing commercial portfolio of PCR and NGS-based products, many of which are used to guide and monitor targeted therapies for various malignancies. EntroGen’s footprint reaches every corner of the globe delivering reliable clinical and research products.
About USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center has been leading the fight to make cancer a disease of the past. As one of the eight original comprehensive cancer centers in the United States, its mission is to treat and prevent cancer by advancing and integrating education, research, and personalized patient care. For more than 40 years, USC Norris has been revolutionizing cancer research with innovative surgical techniques and novel cancer treatments. The cancer center’s breakthroughs and discoveries in the field of epigenetics have led the way to a greater understanding of the underlying causes of cancer and new methods of prevention, detection, and treatment. With a multidisciplinary team of more than 250 dedicated scientists and physicians, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center offers patients hope in the battle against cancer. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked USC Norris among the Top 20 hospitals in the United States for cancer care. For more information, go to cancer.keckmedicine.org