Lung Cancer Prognostic Test to Be Commercialized

A gene expression-based assay provides valuable information regarding each patient's prognosis for survival. The test will more effectively guide treatment and improve the selection of patients for chemotherapy following surgical removal of small-cell lung cancer.

The test, called LungExpress Dx, enables physicians and their patients to effectively determine, in the case of patients predicted to have a good prognosis, whether to avoid unnecessary, highly toxic and expensive chemotherapy or, in the case of patients predicted to have a poor prognosis, to undergo chemotherapy to increase the likelihood of a cure. By assisting in targeting treatment to those patients who are most likely to benefit, the test has the potential to improve patient outcomes and save substantial treatment. If diagnosed early and properly treated, lung cancer may be cured.

The prognostic assay was developed over the last four years by a University Health Network (UHN; Toronto, Canada) team of scientists and physicians at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto (Canada). "This test has the potential to make an immediate impact upon patient care by providing a more significant understanding of each patient's cancer, thus resulting in better-informed, more appropriate treatment decisions. We are moving much closer to the ultimate goal of personalized medicine,” said Dr. Shepherd, one of the team's leaders.

Med BioGene, Inc. (MBI) and UHN have entered into license and collaboration agreements providing MBI with exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize the test that was developed by UHN. The test will be marketed under MBI's trade name LungExpress Dx.


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University Health Network
Princess Margaret Hospital
Med BioGene