ASCO Data Shows Prostate Cancer Patients with Genetic Risk Factors Missed Under Current Testing Guidelines

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Jun 05, 2017, 08:17 ET

CHICAGO, June 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A new analysis of genetic testing results among prostate cancer patients shows a substantial portion of patients with clinically significant genetic variants will be missed under current testing guidelines. These data add to the evidence supporting the re-evaluation of germline genetic testing guidelines for prostate cancer patients. The study was presented by a team including researchers from Invitae Corporation (NYSE: NVTA) and the Tulane University School of Medicine at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, where it was designated a "Best of ASCO" presentation.

The study found 17.2% of patients exhibited pathogenic variants, potentially pathogenic variants, or risk alleles across a number of genes; among these patients, 37% would not have qualified for testing under current guidelines. The analysis included de-identified data from 1158 patients who underwent genetic testing using a panel of 25-79 cancer-related genes from Invitae. Additional findings included:

The majority (65.5%) of variants occurred in genes other than BRCA1/2, the only two genes tested under current guidelines
9.5% of variants occurred in genes associated with Lynch syndrome, an inherited disorder that puts patients at significantly elevated risk for several different cancers at a young age
12 patients had variants in more than one gene.

"This study solidly underscores the need to reevaluate how we test prostate patients for genetic variants associated with disease, in terms of both expanding who we offer testing to and broadening the list of genes we test them for beyond just BRCA1 and BRCA2," said Oliver Sartor, MD, Laborde Professor of Cancer Research, Tulane Cancer Center in New Orleans and a co-author of the study. "Patients who have variants in these genes may be more likely to have aggressive disease and genetic information about a number of genes may have implications for treatment decisions."

"Some of the genes implicated in prostate cancer are also associated with other conditions, making it vital for patients and their families to have genetic information. For example, a BRCA variant may be passed on to a daughter putting her at risk for breast cancer, or a Lynch syndrome variant may indicate a risk for colon cancer, uterine or ovarian cancer, as well as other cancers," said Robert Nussbaum, MD, chief medical officer of Invitae. "Now that genetic testing is accessible and affordable, we must reevaluate how we are using this powerful information to help improve healthcare for patients and their families."

Rapid results and genetic counseling support available for clinicians and patients

Invitae provides results in as few as 10 calendar days (14 days on average). To help support clinicians and their patients, Invitae offers clinicians access to its Clinical Consult Service, where Invitae's expert team of medical geneticists and genetic counselors provide support through the entire testing process to select the right test, clarify results, and review individual patient cases at no additional charge. Invitae also makes genetic counseling services available as needed.

Invitae is a Medicare provider, and is in contract with major national and regional commercial payers. The company is committed to driving down the cost of genetic testing with simple and transparent pricing, including a $475 up-front, patient-pay price for any test within a single clinical area.

About Invitae
Invitae Corporation's (NYSE: NVTA) mission is to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medical practice to improve the quality of healthcare for billions of people. Invitae's goal is to aggregate most of the world's genetic tests into a single service with higher quality, faster turnaround time, and lower price than many single-gene and panel tests today. The company currently provides a diagnostic service comprising approximately 1,500 genes for a variety of genetic disorders associated with oncology, cardiology, neurology, pediatrics, and other rare disease areas, as well as a clinical whole exome analysis service. Additionally, the company has created a Genome Network to connect patients, clinicians, advocacy organizations, researchers, and therapeutic developers to accelerate the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of hereditary disease. For more information, visit our website at invitae.com.

Safe Harbor Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to data that shows a substantial portion of patients with clinically significant genetic variants will be missed under current testing guidelines; that patients who have variants in certain genes may be more likely to have aggressive disease and that genetic information about a number of genes may have implications for treatment decisions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the company's ability to use rapidly changing genetic data to interpret test results accurately, consistently, and quickly; the company's history of losses; the company's need to scale its infrastructure in advance of demand for its tests and to increase demand for its tests; the company's ability to develop and commercialize new tests and expand into new markets; laws and regulations applicable to the company's business; and the other risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and Invitae Corporation disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

NOTE: Invitae and the Invitae logo are trademarks of Invitae Corporation. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Contact:
Laura D'Angelo
[email protected]
314-920-0617

SOURCE Invitae Corporation