OncoStem Diagnostics has now identified Core Diagnostics as its exclusive partner to distribute the ‘mammaCORE CanAssist-Breast’ which is India’s first indigenously developed and innovative test to help early stage breast cancer patients determine their risk of cancer relapse. The test is designed for ER+/PR+/Her2- breast cancer patients in stages 1 and 2.
Recurrence is the most dreaded aspect of any cancer. In India, about 150,000 patients get breast cancer every year. Almost all cancer patients undergo surgery, while chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) is recommended only for patients who have a ‘high risk for recurrence’.
“With no tests hitherto to ‘predict’ risk of cancer recurrence, 95 per cent of patients get treated with chemo or radiotherapy but only about 20 per cent early stage patients actually recur. Thus, majority of patients are perhaps over-treated and have to bear toxic effects of the treatment which reduces their quality of life and is a monetary drain. This test will help reduce this burden of over-treatment by helping doctors plan treatments while taking into account the risk of relapse. We are extremely excited about the power of this product and are looking forward to help modify the future of breast cancer treatment across the globe,” said Zoya Brar, founder & MD, Core Diagnostics.
CanAssist-Breast test uses clinical parameters in combination with 5 novel biomarkers tested by a well-standardized technique which measures protein expression accurately and then integrates them into a Statistical algorithm to stratify patients as ‘low or high’ risk for recurrence. Thus, using the CanAssist-Breast test, clinicians can plan personalized and optimum therapy for patients.
“The test will spare more than 60,000 breast cancer patients in India per year and over 660,000 patients worldwide from severe chemotherapy associated toxic effects and costs. Our partnership with Core Diagnostics will help make this test available to more Indians across the country,” informed Dr Manjiri Bakre, founder & CEO, OncoStem Diagnostics.