SAN DIEGO ,
Oct. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/
-- Biocept, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIOC), a leading commercial provider
of molecular diagnostic tests and services for physicians treating
cancer patients, announces results
from a prospective study comparing its Target Selector™
cerebrospinal fluid testing to conventional cytology in patients
with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and leptomeningeal
metastasis. The results were presented on Friday, October 2, in a virtual poster "Hot
Topic: Liquid Biopsy" presentation at the International Association
for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) by David Berz, MD, PhD, MPH of the Beverly Hills
Cancer Center. The presentation can be found here.
Leptomeningeal metastasis is difficult to diagnose and assess
for treatment response using conventional methods such as cytology.
In this study, 28 cerebrospinal fluid samples from 15
patients obtained sequentially before and during treatment were
compared. Target Selector™ improved detection of circulating
tumor cells (CTC), finding CTCs in 78% of the samples, whereas
cytology detected tumor cells in 55% of samples. Target
Selector™ also provided sensitive quantitative identification of
actionable EGFR mutations in cerebrospinal fluid. In patients
with stable disease and partial response, Exon 19 deletion mutant
copy numbers decreased, whereas they increased in a patient with
progressive disease. Strikingly, alterations in CTC density
(CTCs/mL) as well as in EGFR mutant copy numbers were observed
weeks before a treatment response was measured via traditional
clinical evaluations, such as the RECIST criteria.
"Even in this small study the ability to detect response to this
experimental treatment in cerebrospinal fluid using Target
Selector™ is promising, particularly as the diagnosis of
leptomeningeal disease remains challenging using current methods,"
said Dr. Berz. "Cytological assessment has limited
sensitivity and often requires multiple sample collection attempts.
In addition, cytology is a qualitative measurement, whereas Target
Selector™ allows for quantitative assessment of treatment response.
Given these encouraging results, additional studies of the
use of Target Selector™ testing in patients with leptomeningeal
disease is highly warranted."
"These results indicate Target Selector™ may play an important
role in providing valuable information to neuro-oncologists in
making treatment decisions for patient with lung cancer metastases
to the brain," said Biocept President and CEO Michael Nall. "As more therapies are
developed with the ability to cross the blood brain barrier that
target specific cancer related gene and protein alterations,
analysis of cerebrospinal fluid to inform early detection and
subsequent monitoring for treatment response and disease
progression will likely become increasingly
important."
About the IASLC 2020 Lung Cancer Hot Topic Meeting: Liquid
Biopsy
There have been numerous advances in liquid biopsy
since this event's advent in 2018, and the concept of a
"blood-first" approach – superseding or replacing tissue biopsy –
is a current topic of much debate and discussion. This
innovative virtual conference brought together international and
multidisciplinary experts in the field of liquid biopsy in lung
cancer to present and discuss current technology and best practices
for clinical applications based on available data.
About the IASLC
The International Association for the
Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization
dedicated solely to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic
malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association's membership
includes nearly 9,000 lung cancer specialists across all
disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working
together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The
association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic
Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication
for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis and
treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Please
visit www.iaslc.org for more information.
About Biocept
Biocept, Inc. is a molecular diagnostics
company with commercialized assays for lung, breast, gastric,
colorectal and prostate cancers, and melanoma. The Company uses its
proprietary liquid biopsy technology to provide physicians with
clinically actionable information for treating and monitoring
patients diagnosed with cancer. The Company's patented Target
Selector™ liquid biopsy technology platform captures and analyzes
tumor-associated molecular markers in both circulating tumor cells
(CTCs) and in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). With thousands of
tests performed, the platform has demonstrated the ability to
identify cancer mutations and alterations to inform physicians
about a patient's disease and therapeutic options. In
addition, Biocept recently added COVID-19 testing to support
efforts to fight the pandemic. For additional information, please
visit www.biocept.com.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer Statement
This
release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon
current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions
about future events. Although we believe that the expectations
reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions
upon which they are based are reasonable, we can give no assurance
that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been
correct. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by
the use of words like "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect,"
"anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "intend," or "project" or the
negative of these words or other variations on these words or
comparable terminology. To the extent that statements in this
release are not strictly historical, including without limitation
statements regarding the ability of our tests to provide clinically
actionable information, the role Target Selector™ may plan in
providing valuable information to neuro-oncologists in making
treatment decisions for patient with lung cancer metastases to
the brain, and the ability of Biocept's platform to identify
cancer mutations and alterations to inform physicians about a
patient's disease and therapeutic options, such statements are
forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, as these statements are subject to
numerous risk factors as set forth in our Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) filings. The effects of such risks and
uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from
the forward-looking statements contained in this release. We do not
plan to update any such forward-looking statements and expressly
disclaim any duty to update the information contained in this press
release except as required by law. Readers are advised to review
our filings with the SEC, which can be accessed over the Internet
at the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov.
Investor Contact:
LHA Investor
Relations
Jody Cain
Jcain@lhai.com
310-691-7100
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SOURCE Biocept, Inc.