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Thursday May 14, 9:38 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Oncor Announces New Positive Results of Pre-Clinical Prostate Cancer Study
HER-2/neu Was Again Shown to Be Promising as a Molecular Marker
GAITHERSBURG, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 14, 1998--Oncor Inc. (AMEX:ONC - news) announced today that the second preclinical study findings supporting the use of HER-2/neu gene amplification as a molecular marker in the evaluation of patients with prostate cancer have been published in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
It is estimated that over 700,000 cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year worldwide.
The prostate cancer study was conducted at the Albany Medical College's Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in cooperation with Oncor. The study compared a series of prognostic factors for the prediction of recurrence of disease in patients who were treated for prostate cancer by radical prostate surgery. HER-2/neu gene amplification determined by an Oncor tissue fluorescence in situ hybridization system significantly predicted, in univariate analysis, disease recurrence in patients who underwent prostatectomy and also correlated with the histologic grade and DNA content of the tumors. In addition, HER-2/neu gene amplification also correlated with over-expression of p34(cdc2) cyclin-dependent kinase, a newly described cell growth regulating protein also believed to play a role in cancer progression.
Jeffrey S. Ross, M.D., Oncor's chief medical officer and principle investigator responsible for the study, said, ''This study confirms previous research that we have conducted indicating that the amplification of the HER-2/neu gene may play a role in the prediction of disease outcome for prostate cancer.''
Cecil Kost, Oncor's president and chief operating officer, said, ''Dr. Ross's findings support the view of HER-2/neu gene amplification as a useful molecular marker for numerous cancers including prostate cancer. Oncor intends to initiate a clinical trial to demonstrate the correlation between INFORM(TM) HER-2/neu test and the risk for recurrence in prostate cancer, commencing during the third quarter of 1998. This study will be used to seek marketing approval from the FDA for this new INFORM(TM) indication.''
A patent application has been filed for the use of a technology to detect HER-2/neu gene amplification associated with prostate cancer.
Oncor's INFORM(TM) HER-2/neu Gene Detection System is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a prognostic index in the risk stratification of breast cancer.
Oncor Inc. (http://www.oncor.com) develops, manufactures and markets gene-based test systems and related products for use in the detection and management of cancer and other human disease.
This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature regarding future events. These statements are only predictions and actual events may differ materially. Please refer to documents that Oncor files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements.
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Contact:
Oncor Inc.
Jose Coronas, Chairman and Acting CEO
Cecil Kost, President & COO
Dr. Jeffrey S. Ross, Chief Medical Officer
Bernard R. Tyrrell, Vice President, Marketing & Sales
301/963-3500
E-mail: ir@oncor.com |
