Colon and Prostate Cancer Abstracts Accepted by American Society of Clinical Oncology
TORONTO, CANADA (April 25, 2006): ChondroGene™ Limited (TSX Venture: CDG) announced today that two abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting being held in Atlanta from June 2 to 6. The two abstracts detail results of the Company’s work in identifying blood-based biomarkers for colon cancer and for prostate cancer. Both abstracts demonstrate the power and flexibility of the Sentinel Principle™, ChondroGene’s proprietary approach to identify molecular signatures of disease in blood.
The first abstract entitled, "Novel blood biomarker panel detects human colorectal cancer" was authored by M. Han, C. T. Liew, H. W. Zhang, K. T. Yip, Z. Y. Song, H. M. Li, X. P. Geng, L. X. Zhu, K. W. Marshall, C. C. Liew. ChondroGene scientists worked with researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, Lam Wah Ee Hospital, Penang, Malaysia, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China and Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China. The abstract reports results from a study that identified gene signatures from blood cells which were then used to identify and characterize a set of biomarkers able to differentiate patients with colorectal cancer from controls.
The second abstract entitled "Blood-based biomarkers for detecting aggressive prostate cancer at time of biopsy" was authored by R. K. Nam, K. W. Marshall, R. Zheng, H. W. Zhang, S. A. Narod, C. C. Liew. This study, conducted with research collaborators at the University of Toronto, identified a set of blood biomarkers that were able to distinguish patients with aggressive forms of prostate cancer from controls.
"We are pleased that our two abstracts were accepted for presentation at this conference. The annual ASCO meeting is an important international conference where many new cancer diagnostic and therapeutic innovations and discoveries are first disclosed," stated K. Wayne Marshall, MD, PhD, President and CEO of ChondroGene. "We, along with our collaborators, are very encouraged by our initial results in colon and prostate cancer detection using blood samples. We continue to collect additional patient samples and conduct further studies in order to refine our tests in these two areas as we prepare to commercialize our first products."
About ASCO
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world’s leading professional organization representing physicians who treat people with cancer. ASCO’s members set the standard for patient care worldwide, and lead the fight for more effective cancer treatments, increased funding for clinical and translational research, and cures for the many different cancers that strike millions of people around the world every year. For more information go to http://www.asco.org.Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially from those projected herein. Investors should consult the Company's ongoing quarterly filings and annual reports for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
