RICHMOND, British Columbia, July
8, 2010 -- BioCurex Inc. (OTCBB: BOCX - News) today announced its first
set of results supporting the use of the BioCurex RECAF blood test to monitor
cancer therapy. The test included
samples from 27 human patients with early stages of breast cancer that were
tested before and after surgery. As a control, 15 samples from healthy
individuals were also tested.
The RECAF blood test detected 26
out of 27 patients as positive for breast cancer (sensitivity = 96%) and 14 out
of 15 healthy individuals (93% specificity) were negative at the standard 4,700
RECAF Units cutoff.
At a cutoff of
5,500 Units there were no false positives (all healthy individuals were
negative thus the specificity of the test was 100%). At this higher cutoff, 24
out of 27 patients with early stages of breast cancer were still positive
(sensitivity = 89%). These results are consistent with our previous findings (
http://biocurex.com/news/news80.htm) and they indicate that
the RECAF test can detect 9 out of 10 women with early stages of breast cancer
while being negative in all healthy individuals.
The study also showed a
significant drop in circulating RECAF for patients after surgery.
The drop was most pronounced in those
patients with the highest RECAF values before surgery. Samples taken after
longer intervals following surgery exhibited the highest drops.
Dr. Ricardo Moro, BioCurex CEO
stated, “These results clearly indicate that RECAF is increased in patients
with early stages of breast cancer, and that RECAF decreases in those same
patients after surgery. If the original cancer produced an excess of RECAF, its
recurrence would also produce excessive RECAF and therefore be detectable with
our RECAF test. Also, if 90% of early stage cancers are detectable, recurrence
in those cases should also be detected early with the resulting benefit for the
patient. These results are the first step in demonstrating that our blood test
for cancer can be used to monitor therapy and follow-up treated patients for
early detection of recurrence.”
Breast cancer is the second
leading cause of cancer deaths in women today (after lung cancer). According to
the American Cancer Society, approximately 1.3 million women are diagnosed with
breast cancer every year worldwide and approximately 460,000 die from the
disease. Many of these deaths result from metastases that, if detected earlier,
could be prevented.
Breast cancer death
rates have been dropping steadily since 1990, according to the American Cancer
Society, because of earlier detection and better treatments.
“While RECAF’s potential for
cancer screening is important, the use of this marker for follow-up and
monitoring of therapy is its most immediate application”, stated Denis Burger,
Ph.D., BioCurex Executive Chairman.
“RECAF is a ‘universal’ cancer marker that detects most types of cancer
and in follow-up applications, the primary cancer type is already known. Thus,
this one test can be used to detect the recurrence of most cancers which is
critical in our current, cost conscious healthcare environment. I believe that
our RECAF test for monitoring the recurrence of most cancers, regardless of
origin, would be the most favorable path for a timely FDA submission and
approval.”
About
BioCurex, Inc.
BioCurex, Inc. is a biotechnology
company that is developing products based on patented and proprietary
technology in the area of cancer diagnostics. The technology identifies a
universal cancer marker known as RECAF.
RECAF is a molecule that is
present on cancer cells but not detected in significant levels on healthy cells
or benign tumor cells. It is the receptor for alpha-fetoprotein and is
classified as an oncofetal antigen due to its presence on both fetal and
malignant tissues. This characteristic makes RECAF a more accurate indicator of
cancer than most current tumor markers.
BioCurex is commercializing its
technology through licensing arrangements with companies that develop and
market diagnostic tests for the large automated clinical laboratory setting,
through development and marketing of non-automated clinical laboratory tests,
through development of rapid, point-of-care test formats, and through marketing
of its OncoPet RECAF test for cancer in companion animals.
BioCurex has signed licensing
agreements for its cancer detection blood tests with Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:
ABT) and with Inverness Medical Innovations (NYSE: IMA). For further
information on these agreements visit:
http://sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1092562/000100487808000117/sb2amnd4s1april08.txt.
For more information about the
Company, please visit
www.BioCurex.com.
For more information about OncoPet Diagnostics Inc., please visit:
www.OncoPetDiagnostics.com.
Forward-Looking
Statements
The Company has not authorized
the release of this information in any form that contravenes the Communication
Act and will not be responsible for unsolicited massive distribution of this
material by e-mail or facsimile by unauthorized parties. Statements in this
press release, which are not historical facts, are “forward-looking statements''
within the meaning given to that term in the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be
subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Since these statements involve
risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the Company's
actual results could differ materially from expected results.
Company Contact:
Antonia Haughton
BioCurex, Inc.
(604) 207 9150
http://www.biocurex.com
Investor Relations
Contact:
Tony Schor or James Foy
Investor Awareness, Inc.
(847) 945 2222
http://www.investorawareness.com
