Source: www.earthtimes.org
Author: press release

Perceptronix Medical Inc. announces that a clinical study of OralAdvance(TM), a test for the early detection of oral cancer, is now underway. The clinical study will assess the performance of OralAdvance(TM) compared to the gold standard biopsy and histology for its ability to differentiate between visually suspicious oral lesions with cancer or pre-cancer and visually suspicious benign oral lesions.

“Unlike many other types of cancer, the incidence and mortality rates of oral cancer have not shown significant improvement over the past 30 years. By the time most oral cancers are diagnosed, they are already symptomatic late-stage disease. At Perceptronix we are dedicated to changing this paradigm towards early detection for better patient outcomes,” says Dr. Bojana Turic, President and CEO of Perceptronix.

Patients for the blinded study will be recruited from the BC Cancer Agency’s Vancouver and Fraser Valley Centres.

“We are pleased to be able to participate in the evaluation of the test in a clinical setting with technology that was developed in partnership with scientists at the BC Cancer Agency’s Research Centre, and we are hopeful that the test will have a positive impact on the early detection of oral cancer,” says Dr. Allan Hovan (Provincial Professional Practice Leader, Program in Oral Oncology/Dentistry, BC Cancer Agency).

Currently, the death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s disease, cancer of the brain, liver, testes, kidney, or malignant melanoma. High death rate associated with oral cancer could be reduced significantly by putting clinical and technological emphasis on early detection.

– When oral cancer is detected in its later stages, the five-year survival rate is approximately 50%

– When oral cancer is detected in its early stage, the five-year survival rate is 80% or higher

– Currently, only 36% of all oral cancers are detected in their early stage.

About OralAdvance(TM)
OralAdvance(TM) is a new quantitative cytology test based on analysis of oral brush specimens. The test provides an objective measure of gross DNA abnormality to determine the pre-malignant or malignant nature of a lesion. OralAdvance(TM) offers a new and useful option to assess suspicious lesions when a biopsy is not warranted or possible.

About Perceptronix Medical Inc.
Perceptronix Medical Inc. (Vancouver, Canada) is a private cancer diagnostics laboratory specializing in the provision of innovative early cancer detection tests based on quantitative cytology. The Company’s DNA image cytometry technology was developed in partnership with the BC Cancer Agency (Canada). Quantitative cytology provides physicians with an innovative cytopathology assessment based on an objective measure of large-scale DNA abnormality that can indicate precancerous or cancerous changes. The company has developed proprietary tests for the early detection of lung cancer and oral cancer using its DNA cytometry technology and offers quantitative cytology analysis of various tissues.