VolitionRx Announces Prostate Cancer Collaboration with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

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Study will assess ability of VolitionRx NuQ® to distinguish between aggressive anaplastic prostate cancer and typical castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)

NAMUR, Belgium, Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --VolitionRx Limited (VNRX), a life sciences company focused on developing blood-based diagnostic tests for different types of cancer, today announced a study with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center's Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology. The study will examine the competency of VolitionRx NuQ® assays to distinguish anaplastic prostate cancer, a particularly aggressive form of the disease, from typical castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), a less aggressive form.

Anaplastic prostate cancers are a clinically defined subset of prostate cancers that behave like small cell prostate carcinomas. Small cell prostate carcinoma is a morphological variant of prostate cancer that is rare at initial diagnosis but often emerges during the castration-resistant progression of the disease and is associated with a distinct, aggressive, clinical behaviour and resistance to standard prostate cancer therapies. The anaplastic prostate carcinomas are quick spreading and, unlike many CRPC cases, require early chemotherapy. They are estimated to represent 20-30% of the lethal prostate cancers. An objective, non-invasive molecular marker that can be monitored to identify the anaplastic prostate carcinomas early is needed. MD Anderson will assess if VolitionRx's NuQ® assays can identify the anaplastic form of the disease.

The retrospective study will include samples obtained from two previous clinical trials, one that selected men with CRPC who met one of seven anaplastic clinical criteria, and a second that included unselected men with non-anaplastic CRPC. The samples will be assessed using VolitionRx's assays for specific histone modifications of circulating nucleosomes. Patterns and changes in histone modifications are used to indicate certain cancers and this method will assess the competency of VolitionRx's assays to identify anaplastic CRPC.

"Partnering with MD Anderson, which is consistently rated in U.S. News & World Report's ''Best Hospitals" survey as the leading US hospital for cancer care, is a unique and significant opportunity," comments Dr. Jason Terrell MD, Chief Medical Officer at VolitionRx. "If our NuQ® tests can identify objective molecular markers for anaplastic prostate carcinomas, there could be exciting potential for the tests to advance our understanding of the disease process and improve patient outcomes. This is another clear milestone for our company, as we continue to make solid progress on executing our strategy of broadening our trials beyond colorectal cancer."

In addition to this planned study, VolitionRx is carrying out several clinical trials on the effectiveness of the NuQ® assays as a cancer diagnostic tool:

  • A 4,800 patient retrospective study and a 14,000 patient prospective study into colorectal cancer at Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • A 4,000 patient prospective study that involves patients with the 20 most prevalent cancers at University Hospital in Bonn, Germany.
  • A 250 patient study into colorectal cancer at CHU-UCL Mont Godinne Hospital, Belgium.

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Information on prostate cancer taken from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3072185/

About the Study Samples

Archived serum samples obtained from patients participating in two prospective clinical trials will be used for these studies: 1. Phase II Study of Carboplatin plus Docetaxel in Patients with Anaplastic Prostate Carcinoma (Aparicio et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2013 Jul 1;19(13):3621-30). 2. A Prospective Randomized Phase III Trial Comparing Consolidation Therapy With or Without Strontium-89 Following Induction Chemotherapy in Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer (Non-anaplastic-NCT00024167). To be eligible for this study, men with typical metastatic CRPC had to have osteoblastic bone metastases and were excluded if they had predominant visceral metastases to liver, lungs or brain, symptomatic lymphadenopathy, significant local invasive disease or SCPC.

About VolitionRx

VolitionRx is a life sciences company focused on developing blood-based diagnostic tests for different types of cancer. The tests are based on the science of Nucleosomics which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream – an indication that cancer is present.
VolitionRx's goal is to make the tests as common and simple to use, for both patients and doctors, as existing diabetic and cholesterol blood tests. VolitionRx's research and development activities are currently centred in Belgium as the company focuses on bringing its diagnostic products to market first in Europe, then in the US and ultimately, worldwide.
Visit VolitionRx's website (www.volitionrx.com) or connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or YouTube.

Media Contacts:

Charlotte Reynolds, VolitionRx
Charlotte.Reynolds@volitionrx.com
Telephone: +44 (0) 795 217 7498

Kirsten Thomas, The Ruth Group
kthomas@theruthgroup.com
Telephone: +1 (646) 536-7014

Investor Contacts:

Scott Powell, VolitionRx
S.Powell@volitionrx.com
Telephone: +1 (917) 721-9480

Lee Roth, The Ruth Group
lroth@theruthgroup.com
Telephone: +1 (646) 536-7012

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SOURCE VolitionRx Limited

Released October 2, 2014