Gene expression profile could have utility to predict responses to targeted therapies and chemotherapies in multiple cancer types

IRVINE, CA and AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS – Agendia, an innovative molecular cancer diagnostics company and leader in personalized medicine, today announced the publication in the November 21st issue of the prestigious scientific journal “Cell” of a study that identifies a gene signature that is associated with resistance to a broad range of cancer therapies in multiple cancer types.

The gene signature, discovered in collaboration with scientists from the Netherlands Cancer Institute, identifies a process that resembles the process of “Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition” (EMT) as a major determinant of response to both targeted cancer therapeutics and chemotherapeutics in a broad range of cancer types.

“We need to understand the mechanisms of drug resistance if we want to prevent resistance from occurring. Moreover, we have shown that blocking the EMT process with selective drugs restores sensitivity to the original drug, which suggests a way to treat patients that have undergone this type of drug resistance”

says Rene Bernards, senior author of the study and Chief Scientific Officer at Agendia. The company is in discussions with several pharmaceutical companies to collaborate on the use of this gene signature in clinical studies.

“Our ongoing collaboration with the Netherlands Cancer Institute contributes significantly to Agendia’s high-value offering of pharma services and new diagnostic tests,” said David Macdonald, CEO of Agendia. “Agendia is committed to improving the effectiveness of cancer therapies by providing valuable biomarker tools to pharmaceutical companies and physicians.”

About Agendia

Agendia is a leading molecular diagnostic company that develops and markets FFPE-based genomic diagnostic products, which help support physicians with their complex treatment decisions. Agendia’s breast cancer SymphonyT suite was developed using unbiased gene selection, analyzing the complete human genome, ensuring 100% definitive results for cancer patients.  Symphony includes MammaPrint, the first and only FDA-cleared IVDMIA breast cancer recurrence assay, as well as BluePrint, a molecular subtyping assay, TargetPrint®, an ER/PR/HER2 expression assay, and TheraPrint®, an alternative therapy selection assay. Together, these tests help physicians determine a patient’s individual risk for metastasis, which patients will benefit from chemo, hormonal, or combination therapy, and which patients do not require these treatments and can instead be treated with other less arduous and less costly methods.

In addition to the Symphony suite of tests, Agendia has a rich pipeline of genomic products in development. The company collaborates with pharmaceutical companies, leading cancer centers and academic groups to develop companion diagnostic tests in the area of oncology and is a critical partner in the ISPY-2 and MINDACT trials.