MADISON, N.J., May 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quest Diagnostics
scientists will present results of three studies revealing the effect of
genomic abnormalities on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic myeloid
leukemia (CML) and prostate cancer during the 45th Annual Meeting of the
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), scheduled for May 29 through
June 2 in Orlando, FL. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX) is the
world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services.
"As a leader in diagnostics for hematologic cancers, we believe our
studies will help investigators better understand the mechanism of therapy
resistance so they may develop more effective, personalized treatments for
subsets of patients with CML. We are also hopeful that our studies on CML may
provide the basis for one day developing commercial laboratory tests that will
help physicians predict which patients may not respond to conventional CML
therapy, so they may begin alternative treatment options sooner," said Maher
Albitar, M.D., medical director and chief of Research and Development,
Hematology and Oncology, Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute, the esoteric
research, development and testing operation of Quest Diagnostics.
"In addition, we are excited by results of a study related to prostate
cancer conducted by our oncology diagnostics team at Nichols Institute. While
more research is needed, these data may help us to eventually develop a
noninvasive test for differentiating patients with prostate cancer from those
who have benign prostate hyperplasia, a common condition whose symptoms can
mimic cancer," Dr. Albitar said.
The study result abstracts to be shown during the ASCO meeting developed
by Quest Diagnostics scientists include:
-- Resistance to imatinib therapy (Gleevec(R)) in patients with chronic
myeloid leukemia (CML): Scientists from Quest Diagnostics, University of Texas
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, and Consortium for Bioinformatics demonstrated
that 73 percent of patients with CML who are resistant to treatment with
imatinib exhibited the presence of alternatively spliced BCR-ABL1 mRNA with a
35-bp insertion (BCR-ABL135INS). The scientists also determined that imatinib,
when combined with nilotinib or homoharringtonine (HHT), showed strong
synergy, overcoming BCR-ABL135INS-induced resistance in vitro. The findings
emphasize the importance of the overlooked alternatively spliced BCR-ABL135INS
protein and may provide a strategy to treat resistant disease and eradicate
residual CML. Abstract title: "Alternatively spliced truncated BCR-ABL1
protein in CML patients with resistance to kinase inhibitors." (Abstract No:
7026) Link to ASCO abstract:
http://www.abstract.asco.org/AbstView_65_33284.html.
In addition, scientists from Quest Diagnostics and M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center identified three novel (previously undescribed) mutations along the
BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase that may constitute a new class of mutations that
"confer significant drug resistance" to imatinib therapy by expressing a
truncated BCR-ABL1. Abstract title: "BCR-ABL1 truncation due to premature
translation termination as a mechanism of resistance to kinase inhibitors."
(Abstract No: 7028) Link to ASCO abstract:
http://www.abstract.asco.org/AbstView_65_33182.html.
-- Testing for gene rearrangement and partner genes to enhance detection
of prostate cancer: TMPRSS2 gene rearrangements have been reported in 40%-85%
of prostate cancer (PCa) patients and have not been found in normal
individuals or those with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). However, multiple
partner genes, including ETS transcription genes, and breakpoints have been
reported. Scientists at Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute developed a
laboratory test based on TMPRSS2 5' and 3' intragenic differential expression
(IDE) to identify patients with prostate cancer vs. benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH). Although work is needed to improve plasma RNA quality, the
scientists concluded that IDE of plasma TMPRSS2 may be a useful non-invasive
diagnostic or prognostic tool. Abstract title: "Intragenic expression profile
in tissue and plasma for the detection of TMPRSS2 rearrangements associated
with prostate cancer." (Abstract No: 5162) Link to ASCO abstract:
http://www.abstract.asco.org/AbstView_65_34640.html.
Quest Diagnostics is the world's leading cancer diagnostics company. The
company's Leumeta(TM) family of plasma-based molecular tests were the first
available to doctors for directly identifying markers of hematologic cancers
in blood plasma rather than painfully extracted bone marrow biopsies when
introduced in 2006. Since that time, the Leumeta test family has grown to
include more than 20 tests. The company continues to focus on developing its
Leumeta test line in order to develop new testing techniques for solid tumors,
such as prostate cancer, as well as for hematologic cancers. In addition, in
February 2009, the company formed licensing agreements to rights to use
biomarkers owned by Epigenomics and Health Discovery Corporation with the goal
of developing new laboratory tests for detecting prostate cancer in blood and
urine.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics is the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing,
information and services that patients and doctors need to make better
healthcare decisions. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic
testing services through its network of laboratories and patient service
centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical
and scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is a pioneer in developing innovative
diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that
help improve patient care. Additional company information is available at
www.questdiagnostics.com.
The statements in this press release which are not historical facts may be
forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they are
made and which reflect management's current estimates, projections,
expectations or beliefs and which involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. Risks and
uncertainties that may affect the future results of the company include, but
are not limited to, adverse results from pending or future government
investigations, lawsuits or private actions, the competitive environment,
changes in government regulations, changing relationships with customers,
payers, suppliers and strategic partners and other factors discussed in
"Business" in Part I, Item 1, "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Factors that May
Affect Future Results" in Part I, Item 1A, "Legal Proceedings" in Part I, Item
3, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" in Part II, Item 7 and "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures
About Market Risk" in Part II, Item 7A in the company's 2008 Annual Report on
Form 10-K and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" and "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About
Market Risk" in the company's 2009 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other
items throughout the Form 10-K and the company's 2009 Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
Gleevec is a registered trademark of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
All rights reserved.
(C) 2005-2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). All rights
reserved worldwide.
Quest, Quest Diagnostics, the associated logo, Nichols Institute and all
associated Quest Diagnostics marks are the registered trademarks of Quest
Diagnostics.
All third party marks -- (R)' and (TM)' -- are the property of their
respective owners.
(C) 2000-2009 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. All rights reserved.
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics
CONTACT: Wendy Bost (Media), +1-973-520-2800 or Laure Park (Investors),
+1-973-520-2900, both for Quest Diagnostics
Web Site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com
(DGX DGX)