Better Prognostic for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Launched

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 19 Mar 2013
A molecular based diagnostic company has launched a gene expression assay for patients with diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

The International Prognostic Index (IPI) score combined with the new gene expression assay is called the ENGAUGE-cancer-DLBCL. The diagnostic assay was introduced by the company Diagnovus LLC (Nashville, TN; USA).

Unlike other genome-based assays, which require special handling such as snap freezing in liquid nitrogen, the molecular diagnostic Engauge-cancer-DLBCL test uses routinely available formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) diagnostic biopsy tissue and performs the assay in a reproducible and accurate manner.

Dr. Ron Levy, leader of the Lymphoma Program at Stanford University School of Medicine commented, “Traditional stratification schemes based on clinical characteristics such as the IPI have provided prognostic guidance in the management of patients with DLBCL. Despite the ease of use, IPI does not fully capture disease heterogeneity, and it is common to have two patients with identical IPI risk scores have very different outcomes.”

Diagnovus vice president and cofounder Dr James Stover said the company's mission is to develop molecular diagnostic assays [and] that Diagnovus is a specialized molecular diagnostic company focused on delivering personalized information and services to physicians treating patients suffering from underserved, aggressive, and lesser-known diseases facilitate physicians to achieve better outcomes for patients.

"Using well-studied genes incorporated into a multiplexed panel, Engauge-cancer-DLBCL has been developed from more than 10 years of research and exceeds the standard clinical characteristics that clinicians have used for prognosis for the last three decades," Dr Stover said.

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