Study Shows Biocept's Assays are Viable and Sensitive for Detecting Tumor Cells and Biomarkers in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Breast and Lung Cancer that has Metastasized to the Central Nervous System
11/20/2020 - 08:00 AM
SAN DIEGO , Nov. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Biocept, Inc . (Nasdaq: BIOC), a leading commercial provider of molecular diagnostic assays, products and services designed to provide physicians with clinically actionable information to improve patient outcomes, announces the results of a study analyzing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples in patients with primary lung or breast cancer with either brain or leptomeningeal disease. The findings indicate that Target Selector™ CSF assays are a viable and sensitive platform for circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection and molecular analysis compared to the current standard of care, CSF cytology, which is typically used to establish or confirm leptomeningeal disease when imaging findings are suspicious or equivocal. CSF cytology has limited sensitivity and provides no additional information needed for target therapy choice.
The results were discussed yesterday in a poster presentation by Santosh Kesari , MD, PhD, Chair and Professor, Department of Translational Neurosciences, Director of Neuro-oncology at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute and John Wayne Cancer Institute, at the Society for Neuro-Oncology's SNO2020 Virtual Conference on November 19, 2020 .
"Once a tumor has metastasized to the brain, CTCs and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can be found in the cerebrospinal fluid," said Dr. Kesari. "This prospective study compared the sensitivity of CTC detection and molecular analysis of Biocept's Target Selector™ CSF assays to cytology (microscopic examination of conventional CSF cytology slide preps). This study highlights the potential of CSF-based diagnostics for longitudinal monitoring cancers in the central nervous system."
"Our Target Selector™ testing is a minimally invasive, cost-effective strategy to simultaneously confirm metastasis to the brain, while also assessing cancer biomarkers in order to qualify a patient for potential targeted therapy options," said Michael Nall , President and CEO of Biocept. "Identifying CTCs and actionable biomarkers with Target Selector™ can help to confirm and monitor central nervous system involvement when clinically suspected, without the risk of complications associated with surgical biopsies, which are often impossible in these cases.
"This the second major scientific conference in less than two months to accept study results from Target Selector™ testing in cerebrospinal fluid for presentation," added Mr. Nall. "We view neuro-oncology as an area where our technology is uniquely suited to answer questions posed by treating physicians, and we are appreciative of the Society of Neuro-Oncology's recognition of our Target Selector™ testing."
About the SNO2020 Virtual Conference
The Society for Neuro-Oncology exists to advance multi-disciplinary brain tumor research, education, and collaboration to drive discovery and improve patient care. Over 2,600 neuro-oncology professionals are expected to register for the SNO2020 Virtual Conference being held November 19-21, 2020 . More information can be found at soc-neuro-onc.org .
About Biocept
Biocept, Inc. is a molecular diagnostics company with commercialized assays for lung, breast, gastric, colorectal and prostate cancers, and melanoma. The Company uses its proprietary liquid biopsy technology to provide physicians with clinically actionable information for treating and monitoring patients diagnosed with cancer. The Company's patented Target Selector™ liquid biopsy technology platform captures and analyzes tumor-associated molecular markers in both circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). With thousands of tests performed, the platform has demonstrated the ability to identify cancer mutations and alterations to inform physicians about a patient's disease and therapeutic options. Additionally, Biocept is offering nationwide COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to support public health efforts during this unprecedented pandemic. For more information, please visit www.biocept.com .
Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer Statement This release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which they are based are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of words like "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "intend," or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. To the extent that statements in this release are not strictly historical, including without limitation statements regarding neuro-oncology being an area where Biocept's technology is uniquely suited to answer questions posed by treating physiciansthe ability of Biocept's platform to identify cancer mutations and alterations to inform physicians about a patient's disease and therapeutic options, such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as these statements are subject to numerous risk factors as set forth in our Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings. The effects of such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this release. We do not plan to update any such forward-looking statements and expressly disclaim any duty to update the information contained in this press release except as required by law. Readers are advised to review our filings with the SEC, which can be accessed over the Internet at the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov .
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