Warnex Offers New Personalized Medicine Service: K-Ras Mutation Analysis for Colorectal Cancer

Warnex Inc. announced today that its Medical Laboratories division now offers a new test in the field of personalized medicine: K-ras mutation analysis for patients with colorectal cancer.

"Personalized medicine significantly improves medical care. Using information obtained from a patient's genetic profile, healthcare professionals can tailor their medical treatment to the individual patient's needs," said Mark Busgang, President and CEO of Warnex. "Warnex's mutation analysis of the K-ras gene provides valuable information to evaluate a patient's response to specific treatments for colorectal cancer."

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in Canada. On average, 413 Canadians will be diagnosed and 171 Canadians will die of colorectal cancer every week. Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer or large bowel cancer, includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. Many colorectal cancers are thought to arise from polyps in the colon. These growths are usually benign, but some may develop into cancer over time.

Current treatment strategies for colorectal cancer include therapy targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, studies have shown that a mutation in the K-ras gene gives rise to resistance to anti-EGFR therapy. The incidence of K-ras mutations is about 40% in colorectal cancer tumours. K-ras mutation analysis provides physicians with valuable information while evaluating the use of EGFR targeting compounds.

The American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently released an opinion recommending routine K-ras gene testing to guide treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer.