About EXACT Sciences sample sample
EXACT Sciences is developing technologies that help to eradicate
mortality from common cancers— starting with
colorectal cancer — by applying advances in the field of genomics to facilitate the early
detection of disease. EXACT Sciences’ first target is colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths and the most deadly cancer among non-smoking men and women in the United States. Annually, there are nearly 154,000 colorectal cancer cases diagnosed and 52,000 deaths due to this disease. It is estimated that roughly one-third of colorectal cancer-related deaths could be saved if more people underwent regular screening. Of those diagnosed,
nearly half are expected to die within five years, since most cancers are detected when the cancer is less treatable. For those whose cancer is detected at an earlier stage, the five-year survival rate can be greater than 90%. The American Cancer Society recommends that all Americans age 50 and older be screened regularly for colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, only a fraction of this population is screened for the disease, as currently available screening technologies are considered by many as either too invasive or inaccurate.
The Importance of Colorectal Cancer Screening Colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon, rectum, or large bowel) may not be something you want to think about, let alone talk about with your doctor. But consider these facts: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States; only lung cancer kills more people annually. There are usually no early warning signs for colorectal cancer — you could feel perfectly well and still have colorectal cancer. After age 50, your risk begins to increase dramatically, and women and men are both at risk. But there's good news.
Colorectal cancer is also a highly curable form of cancer. Catching it early is the key —
colorectal cancer is up to 90% curable if caught early. So it's important not to delay getting tested. The American Cancer Society recommends that everyone age 50 and older should be screened regularly. And anyone with a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps should begin screening even earlier.
Applied Research and Development sample sample
EXACT Sciences’ applied research group continues to explore new and advanced technologies that may have applicability both to colorectal cancer and other cancers.
Ongoing Research Novel Hypermethylated DNA Markers
EXACT Sciences’ researchers are studying the novel use of hypermethylated DNA markers in stool for the detection of colorectal cancer. Digital Oligonucleotide Tiling (DOT)
EXACT Sciences’ researchers have developed a novel, proprietary mutation-scanning technique known as Digital Oligonucleotide Tiling (DOT). DOT enables one to scan large sections of a gene for mutations without knowing the exact locations of such mutations. Digital PCR
Digital PCR is a technology that EXACT Sciences licensed exclusively from John’s Hopkins University in 2003. Digital PCR is a method that may be usable to enhance the ability to detect small numbers of mutated gene sequences amidst large volumes of normal gene sequences.
Additional Research EXACT Sciences may also focus its research into areas beyond colorectal cancer detection in an effort to identify technologies and methods that may be useful for the early detection of other common cancers. The guiding principle of this research forms the basis for the company’s core mission and beliefs – simply, that the early detection of cancer saves lives. DNA Integrity Assay (DIA®)
EXACT Sciences is further validating its observations around the value of its proprietary DNA Integrity Assay (DIA®) in cancer detection. The pnce of these longer strands of DNA may be associated with escape from apoptosis, (programmed, normal cell death) which itself is the hallmark of cancer. EXACT Sciences may ultimately apply this theory in investigating DIA’s potential in: Early detection of other common cancers among average-risk individuals. Disease monitoring for transitions from benign proliferative disorders (polyps, cysts, warts, etc.) to malignant tumors. Intra-individual therapeutic monitoring (watching for the disappearance of DIA-positive DNA). Screening post-therapy to detect recurrence. Use as a single marker as a broad colorectal cancer screening tool.
Studies of Stool-Based DNA Screening In a 5,400 patient study, using a direct comparison between stool-based DNA screening for colon cancer and FOBT (Hemoccult II), stool-based DNA screening demonstrated a sensitivity four (4) times greater than FOBT for asymptomatic, average-risk individuals 50 years of age or older. Unlike bleeding, which can be intermittent or non-existent, DNA exfoliation occurs continuously and exfoliated cells are representative of the entire colon. Also, unlike bleeding, an indirect measure that is not associated with the underlying etiology of colorectal cancer, DNA alterations such as those in stool based DNA screening are specifically linked to the cause and actual presence of cancer and pre-malignant polyps.
Resource Center sample sample
According to the American Cancer Society, only 37% of all new cases of colorectal cancer are detected in the early stages when the disease is 90% curable. Many patients diagnosed in the late stages had never received regular screening and presented with symptoms. Stool-based DNA screening can help be an effective tool for eliminating the barriers to screening for one of the most curable cancers in our society.
The Best Test Is The One That Gets Used™. The clinical rationale for stool-based DNA screening has been demonstrated in numerous peer-reviewed publications.