DERBY, Conn., June 24, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Denise Barajas, MD, medical director at The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness in Derby, CT, has launched a high-risk breast cancer program that includes state-of-the-art screening options including the BREVAGen™ predictive risk test. Clinically validated, BREVAGen is the latest advance in assessing a woman's unique risk of developing non-familial or sporadic breast cancer.
"The breast cancer screening process can be arduous and confusing for patients because there are so many screening options and test attributes to sort out," said Denise Barajas, MD, medical director at The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness. "We can simplify the process by administering BREVAGen, which gives patients an accurate five-year and lifetime risk assessment for developing estrogen-positive breast cancer. By knowing each patient's risk, we can then develop personalized breast health and monitoring plans tailored to their specific risk and needs which will help us reduce the incidence of advanced breast cancer cases we see; this should help save lives," Barajas added.
BREVAGen is a clinically validated predictive risk test that more accurately identifies a woman's unique risk of developing sporadic, estrogen-positive breast cancer. BREVAGen examines a woman's clinical risk factors, such as their lifetime exposure to estrogen, combined with scientifically validated markers to determine each patient's personalized five-year and lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.1 BREVAGen is supplied by Phenogen Sciences, a subsidiary of Genetic Technologies Limited (NASDAQ: GENE). For more information about BREVAGen at The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness, contact Catherine Krueger, RN at (203) 732-7233.
How BREVAGen Works
The BREVAGen predictive risk test is administered in a physician's office using a simple, non-invasive "oral-swab". Following analysis in a CLIA-certified laboratory, physicians receive a comprehensive genetic risk prediction report to review with the patient. The patient's risk of breast cancer is calculated by combining their relative risk score from seven genetic markers, called SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms), with factors that comprise the patient's clinical and reproductive history including current age, age at menarche, age at live first birth and race/ethnicity.
The BREVAGen test provides five-year and lifetime predictive risk assessments to more accurately evaluate the patient's risk for developing sporadic breast cancer, regardless of family history or previous indeterminate test results.
Clinically Validated
BREVAGen was proven superior in determining breast cancer risk compared to Gail score alone.1 Utilizing data from the U.S. Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Clinical Trial, 3,300 women underwent breast cancer assessment utilizing the BREVAGen test. Of those 3,300 women, 1,664 were diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,636 were in the breast cancer-free control group. BREVAGen test results support current American Cancer Society (ACS), http://www.cancer.org, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), http://www.asco.org, and The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), http://www.nccn.org, guidelines for prevention and early detection of breast cancer.2, 3
About The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital
The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital opened in 2011 and primarily serves the Lower Naugatuck Valley and surrounding communities. It combines state-of-the-art technology, a team of highly trained physicians and staff, and a Planetree healing environment to offer patients a comprehensive range of personalized breast care and wellness services. The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness features two new, state-of-the-art digital mammography suites with 3D mammography (tomosynthesis) capability, a breast ultrasound suite, and the most advanced system available to perform stereotactic biopsy. The Center also utilizes a rapid diagnostic model where patients are often given test results the same day imaging tests are performed, and if indicated, follow up testing (ultrasound, breast biopsy) and even consultation with a breast surgeon are often available the same day if the patient's schedule permits. For more information, call (203) 732-1300 or visit www.GriffinHealth.org.
About Phenogen Sciences
Phenogen Sciences, the U.S. subsidiary of Australia-based Genetic Technologies Limited, is a pioneer in personalized healthcare. Phenogen offers novel predictive testing and assessment tools that help physicians proactively manage women's health risks.
Phenogen's lead product, BREVAGen, is a clinically validated test that combines a woman's clinical history of estrogen exposure with her genetic predisposition to its effects - more accurately categorizing her personal risk for developing breast cancer. For more information, visit www.phenogensciences.com.
About Genetic Technologies Limited
Genetic Technologies is an established diagnostics company with more than 20 years of experience in commercializing genetic testing, non-coding DNA and product patenting. The company has operations in Australia and the U.S. and is dual-listed on the ASX (GTG.AX) and NASDAQ (GENE). Genetic Technologies is focused on the commercialization of its patent portfolio through an active out-licensing program and the global expansion of its oncology and cancer management diagnostics assets. For more information, please visit www.gtglabs.com.
1 Mealiffe M, Stokowski RP, Rhees, BK, et al. J Nat Cancer Inst. 2010;102(21):1618-1627.
2 Saslow D, Boetes C, Burke W, et al. CA Cancer J Clin. 2007;57(2):75-89.
3 Visvanathan K, Chlebowski RT, Hurley P, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2009;27(19):3235-3258.
4 Breast Cancer Overview. American Cancer Society. Accessed 3/14/12 at
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/OverviewGuide/breast-cancer-overview?docSelected=breast-cancer-overview-key-statistics
5 DeSantis C, Siegel R, Bandi P, Jemal A. CA: A Cancer Journal For Clinicians. 2011;61: 409-418
Additional Information
About Breast Cancer
• Approximately one in eight women will get breast cancer4
• 70% to 80% of those who get breast cancer do not have familial risk indicators2
• Risk of invasive vs. non-invasive breast cancer is approximately four times greater in women age 40-645
• Approximately 75% of all breast cancer is estrogen-positive and, if detected early, can be effectively treated with five-year survival rates of over 95%
Breast Cancer Demographics
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of death in women, after lung cancer.4 According to the 2010 breast cancer demographics there are:
• Approximately 207,000 new cases diagnosed each year4
• Of the 207,000 new cases, about 54,000 are non-invasive forms of breast cancer that have been diagnosed early4
• Approximately 40,000 deaths related to breast cancer in women, annually4
BREVAGen reclassified 64% of above average Gail risk subjects1
BREVAGen reclassified 64% of Gail scores above average risk subjects as either high or low risk for development of hormone-dependent breast cancer. Furthermore, the BREVAGen test reclassified the breast cancer risk for 33% of the total 3,300 trial subjects.1
About BREVAGen™
The first product in Phenogen Science's portfolio, BREVAGen™ is a predictive risk test for sporadic, hormone-dependent breast cancer. The BREVAGen test combines a woman's clinical history of estrogen exposure with the presence of identified genetic markers to determine her five-year and lifetime risk for developing breast cancer. For women whose clinical profile indicates prolonged estrogen exposure, BREVAGen helps to provide a more accurate risk assessment for estrogen-positive breast cancer. The test results assist physicians in developing a personalized care path toward managing each woman's risk of developing breast cancer with greater precision than ever before.
• Non-invasive, easy-to-use predictive risk assessment test
• The first genetic risk prediction test to have been validated in a large-scale, peer-reviewed, case-controlled study1
• Recent studies demonstrate that 64% of women who have above average risk of prolonged estrogen exposure were either reclassified above the guidelines for high risk management or below the general population risk when compared to clinical risk factors alone1
• Supports existing industry guidelines for the prevention of estrogen-positive breast cancer2,3
Click here for BREVAGen B-roll/video:
• Video One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-em2pNeOMNs &feature=plcp
• Video Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSExN7mNlzA &feature=plcp
A photo accompanying this release are available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=19508
