Oncomethyome Sciences to participate in an international clinical trial to optimize brain tumor therapy

OncoMethylome Sciences announced today that it will perform MGMT gene methylation testing for a multi-center clinical trial for patients with brain tumors conducted jointly by the U.S.-based Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). With patient enrollment underway, the trial was designed to determine whether increasing the intensity of temozolomide drug treatment regimen for patients with glioblastoma multiforme tumors improves clinical outcomes over standard-dose temozolomide. This phase III trial brings together a valuable network of international medical centers and universities and is the first such collaborative study between RTOG and EORTC organizations.

The clinical trial builds on a recent EORTC/NCI-C study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2005; 352: 997-1003) which demonstrated that brain tumor patients with methylated, or silenced, DNA repair enzyme gene MGMT had a more favorable survival response to temozolomide therapy than patients with unmethylated, or expressed, MGMT gene. Consequently, the goal of the current trial is to analyze whether all glioblastoma patients, but especially those with unmethylated MGMT, can benefit from a more intensive temozolomide treatment regimen. To assist in this effort, OncoMethylome Sciences will be providing testing services to determine the methylation status of the MGMT gene in brain tumor patients enrolled in the trial.

“Brain tumors are among the most aggressive and fatal adult tumors,” stated Walter J. Curran, Jr, MD, Group Chair of the RTOG. “By joining forces with other international cancer experts, such as the EORTC, and utilizing the promising new OncoMethylome Sciences’ test, we hope to contribute to a significant improvement in treatment of brain tumor patients.”

“OncoMethylome is very proud to be involved in current efforts to improve brain tumor treatment,” said Herman Spolders, CEO of OncoMethylome Sciences. “We hope to demonstrate in this large clinical trial that our methylation technology can provide valuable information about the molecular profile of a patient’s tumor, paving the way for personalized and more effective treatment for each individual patient.”