EXACT Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: EXAS) today announced its stool-based DNA (sNDA) technology is included in updated guidelines concerning colorectal cancer screening from the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer.
In a collective statement, Dr. Sidney Winawer, attending gastroenterologist, and Paul Sherlock, chair in medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, said new guidelines were set in place to urge more people to take the tests.
“In addition to colonoscopy and other previously recommended tests, two new options have been included in the guidelines for colorectal cancer screening; stool DNA testing and CT colonography,” they stated in the press release. “We hope that these two new options will encourage more people to come in to be screened so that the death rates of this cancer can be further reduced.”
EXACT Sciences’ technology is non-invasive and designed so that a stool sample can be taken and shipped from a person’s home. The receiving laboratory then analyzes the DNA for possible mutations and alterations that may cause colorectal cancer.
The company’s sDNA technology was founded on the combined work of Dr. Bert Vogelstein and Dr. Kenneth Kinzler, both of Johns Hopkins University. The two discovered that over time the DNA of cells lining the colon may accumulate alterations and mutations, causing cancerous lesions to be shed into the stool.
“These updated guidelines are a strong endorsement of sDNA technology for detecting colorectal cancer, and a major step forward for the millions of Americans over the age of 50 who have been unwilling or unable to use existing screening methods for detecting colorectal cancer,” Jeffrey Luber, president of EXACT Sciences stated. “Because sDNA technology is a completely non-invasive approach that does not require bowel preparation, published studies demonstrate strong patient preference and compliance with sDNA screening relative to other methods. We believe that these benefits will facilitate more screening and lead to more lives saved over time.”
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