Tuesday, Clarient Inc. (CLRT), a cancer diagnostics company announced the launch of a new gene mutation test called epidermal growth factor receptor mutation test that can help physicians select the proper therapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC.
Drugs that target the epidermal growth factor receptor, or EGFR, have had a major impact on the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Not all patients with non-small cell lung cancer respond to treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. AstraZeneca Inc's (AZN) Iressa (gefitinib) and Roche's Tarceva (erlonitib) belong to EGFR inhibitor class of agents.
According to the company, its epidermal growth factor receptor, or EGFR mutation test, a cancer diagnostic test, can be used as a predictive molecular biomarker to explain why a subset of patients with non-small cell lung cancer may respond to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapies. Clarient noted that EGFR mutation testing will allow NSCLC patients to avoid unnecessary toxicities, treatment delays and higher overall cost of therapy.
Diagnostic tests provide information about a patient's vulnerability to disease, the probable progression of disease, and a patient's likely response to drugs. Diagnostic tests are driving the move toward personalized medicine. Personalized medicine is a shift from the "one-size-fits-all approach", whereby a doctor can tailor a patient's treatment by avoiding using a certain drug, prescribing another, or altering a dose to match the body's genetics.
Clarient focuses on 4 most common types of cancer -- breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers. Since many cancers are treatable, there is a large demand for cancer diagnostic tests.
Lung cancer, the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and the second most common cause of cancer-related death in women (after breast cancer), is responsible for 1.3 million deaths annually worldwide. According to the National Cancer Institute, there were more than 215,000 patients diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008. NSCLC accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases. With treatment, the five-year survival rate is about 14%.
An analysis about the company first appeared on this site on February 27 and can be found atClarient Inc. - An Anatomy
CLRT, which has been trading in the range of $0.82 - $3.58 for the past twelve months, is currently down 1.29% at $3.43 on a volume of 49,246 shares.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.