Mitomics Test Determines Presence of Prostate Cancer

A test uses the science of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to determine accurately the absence or presence of cancerous cells in prostate biopsy tissue.

Called the Prostate Core Mitomic Test (PCMT), it offers accurate, reliable results from existing prostate biopsy tissue. The PCMT can determine the presence of malignant cells via a "cancerization" field effect by detecting underlying molecular alterations in normal appearing tissue. This is all performed quickly and easily with a simple lab test. Molecular changes are identified that enable detection of missed tumors; PCMT has demonstrated sensitivity of 84 % and has also been shown to accurately rule out prostate cancer with a negative predictive value of
91 %.

Mitomics (Thunder Bay, Canada) is a company working on mitochondrial genome-based products to improve clinical insight and therapeutic decisions. It developed and launched the PCMT, which is available through the company's PCMT Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) laboratory in Aurora (CO; USA).

Molecular changes are identified that enable detection of missed tumors; PCMT has demonstrated sensitivity of 84% and has also been shown to accurately rule out prostate cancer with a negative predictive value of
91%.

"With the high rate of false negatives, uncertainty associated with traditional diagnostic tools, whether biochemical or histopathology, and ongoing controversy regarding treatment paradigms, men at risk for prostate cancer are in need of new options,” said Raoul Concepcion, MD, FACS, director of clinical research, Urology Associates P.C. in Nashville (TN, USA). "The ability of PCMT to use mtDNA to potentially identify malignancy by detecting underlying molecular alterations in normal-appearing tissue is an important advance for managing patients whom the urologist feels may be at increased risk.”

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