| Precision Therapeutics is a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory |
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| March 2009 |
By Precision Therapeutics
What we do.
Precision Therapeutics is a diagnostics services company dedicated to providing physicians and patients with actionable clinical information to personalize cancer treatments. Precision’s ChemoFx®, a proprietary live tumor cell-based platform, measures an individual patient’s tumor sensitivity
and resistance to a range of therapeutic alternatives under consideration by a physician.
At the 2009 Annual SGO meeting in February, Duke University presented the abstract data below showing that using ChemoFx® results in cost savings for primary or recurrent ovarian cancer cases.
Results:
- Over 50% of physicians followed results of ChemoFx®
- Cost savings from $2,900 to $8,100 per patient per round
- ChemoFx® results changed physician behavior
- Mean cost estimated for three patient groups: empiric, assay-assisted, and assay-adherent
- Estimates were based on actual reimbursed amounts from commercial claims databases
- Estimates included costs of chemotherapy, supportive drugs, drug administration, professional fees, and all other outpatient charges over a six-cycle treatment period
Laura Havrilesky, M.D., Thomas Krivak, M.D., John Mucenski, R.Ph, Evan Meyers, M.D.
New Genomic Research
Precision is partnering with Dr. Howard McLeod at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in a joint effort to identify genomic profiles associated with chemoresponse of colorectal tumors. Precision will perform sensitivity analysis on specimens while UNC will perform the associated RNA and DNA-based genomic analysis on the same specimens. Genomic analyses will include gene expression profiling by microarray and single nucleotide polymorphism assessment. Together, the resulting data sets will be analyzed to determine genomic signatures predictive of in vitro tumor response to a given chemotherapy. Howard McLeod, PharmD, is the Fred Eshelman Distinguished Professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and the director of the UNC Institute for Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy. Dr. McLeod holds additional appointments in the UNC School of Medicine and the Lineberger Cancer Center.
Paperwork Change
We are pleased to announce a simplification of our paperwork policy. As of February 1, 2009, Precision no longer routinely requests that patients sign a Release Form (also known as AOB/R Form) at the time the test is ordered. Instead, we will only request a Release Form from the patient if and when the patient's insurance plan requests the form from us. In these cases, our diligent patient advocates will work directly with patients to obtain signatures so that we may continue to advocate on their behalf.
Observational Study Update
Precision’s Observational Study is currently accruing gynecologic cancer patients who have had ChemoFx® performed. To date, 940 patients from 48 sites have been enrolled. For more information, please contact us at 877-628-8472.
Lab Facts!
Since January 2007, Precision has received over 10,000 specimens for testing with ChemoFx®. To meet demands, our lab staff has nearly quadrupled since 2007.
Did You Know?
Precision currently receives ChemoFx® specimens from 271 top medical institutions. This includes 20 of the 21 NCCN Member Institutions and eight of the US News and World Report Top 10 Hospitals for Cancer Care.
New website!
We have updated our websites to include more information for patients and physicians!
Please visit us at www.chemofx.com.
About Precision Therapeutics
Precision Therapeutics is an oncology services company dedicated to the individualization of cancer therapy. Precision Therapeutics is a leader in the development and delivery of treatment support tools that assist physicians and benefit cancer patients. For more information visit
www.precisiontherapeutics.com, call 800-547-6165 or email info@ptilabs.com