Who Are We?
We are dedicated to making a real difference in personalizing cancer diagnostics and therapy.
We have developed a medical diagnostic technology that will help pathologists in identifying previously unidentifiable aggressive cancers, and oncologists in being more exact in their therapeutic plans and recommendations. This technology will help anyone who is affected by basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) by helping them live a longer more fulfilling life.
Basal-like Breast Cancer (BLBC) is an aggressive type of breast cancer that is extremely difficult to identify at the time of initial diagnosis. Dependent on a patient's ethnicity [1], BLBC affects 20-45% of all breast cancer patients and often causes metastasis to the brain and lungs.
BLBC lacks the biomarkers capable of guiding diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. The three major biomarkers used in breast cancer treatment (Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR), and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) are ineffective when it comes to BLBC.
BLBC is clinically elusive, exhibiting high rates of metastasis through vascular infiltration (a transient and difficult diagnosis) to the brain and lungs, while presenting negative lymph node status. Thus, BLBC relentlessly lures clinicians towards a favorable prognostic decision resulting in less aggressive adjuvant treatment regimens.
Until today, BLBC could only be diagnosed two to five years after the initial diagnosis: a time when patients are presented with symptoms worse than before. Sadly, effective therapy has already been compromised by this point.
Should breast cancer reoccur, there is a 30% chance it will transform into the more aggressive BLBC sub-type.
Furthermore, 20%-30% of BLBC tumours exhibit ER and/or HER2 biomarkers, which in the past (without a biomarker available) has led to 'missed-diagnosis'.
BLBC is often unresponsive to traditional therapies such as anti-hormone treatment (tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors), trastuzumab, and lapatinib.
[1] Januszewski, A., Tanna, N., & Stebbing, J. (2014). Ethnic variation in breast cancer incidence and outcomes—the debate continues. British Journal of Cancer, 110(1), 4–6. http://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2013.775
What is Basal-Like Breast Cancer?
UNTIL TODAY, NO ASSAY WAS AVAILABLE TO DIAGNOSE BLBC.
NOW AVAILABLE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND
COUNTRIES RECOGNIZING
CE MARKING
VERESCA FOXC1 IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY
BREAST CANCER TEST
®
For in vitro diagnostic use *
A semi-quantitative immunohistochemical assay to determine FOXC1 protein over expression in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) breast carcinoma tissue routinely processed for histological evaluation using light microscopy.
The VERESCA FOXC1 (B2E3) murine monoclonal antibody is intended to assist in the diagnosis of invasive Basal-Like Breast Cancer (BLBC). The clinical interpretation of VERESCA FOXC1 staining or its absence should be evaluated using proper controls, cellular morphology, the patient's clinical history, and other diagnostic tests by qualified pathologists.
* Not available in the United States and certain countries throughout the world.
Patented. US 9,074,253 EP 2,486,149 and other patents and patent applications throughout the world
VERESCA products may be covered by one or more patents or pending patent applications worldwide. See www.FOXC1.info/patents
From Complexity. . .
. . . To Simplicity
Genomic Research at the turn of the century established the existence of breast cancer molecular sub-types.
Two decades later, the Basal-Like sub-type still eludes detection.
From costly instrumentation and complex gene expression profiling. . .
. . . to simple, established IHC assays for routine use in every pathology laboratory.
Genesis of Veresca FOXC1
FOXC1 PROTEIN - 3 DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE
What is FOXC1?
FOXC1 is a gene which identifies BLBC with high precision and accuracy. Using the VERESCA FOXC1 IHC test, breast cancer patients with the more aggressive BLBC can be identified, which can result in obtaining therapy personalised to the individual.
THE IMPACT OF VERESCA FOXC1
The design goal for VERESCA cancer diagnostic products are to transform complex, costly specialised genomic tests restricted to few reserch institutions into robust simple, well established assays available to every pathology laboratory.
The VERESCA FOXC1 ImmunoHistoChemistry breast cancer test is the first test with CE Marking declaration in the Company's breast cancer product line. Data from over 6,000 breast cancer cases (see Publications) were collected and analyzed in the development of the VERESCA FOXC1 IHC test. Together with other products in development, the VERESCA breast cancer product line may help:
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Identify patients with BLBC;
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Predict the probability of developing metastasis: when, and to which organ;
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Predict a response to chemotherapy;
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Predict the probability of disease-free survival after diagnosis; and
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Personalise therapy due to predictive knowledge. [2]
[2] Jensen, T. W., Ray, T., Wang, J., Li, X., Naritoku, W. Y., Han, B., Ray, P. S. (2015). Diagnosis of Basal-Like Breast Cancer Using a FOXC1-Based Assay. JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 107(8), djv148. http://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djv148
Identifying the
Unidentifiable . . .
VERESCA
FOXC1 IHC
Using the VERESCA FOXC1 IHC test, Pathologists can identify a type of aggressive cancer cell that until now had ELUDED DETECTION.
Who will the VERESCA FOXC1 IHC test be of interest to?
PATHOLOGISTS
Pathologists will now be able to diagnose BLBC by studying tissue samples, ranging from tiny biopsies to the removal of organs during operation.
ONCOLOGISTS
Specialising in the treatment of cancer patients, oncologists will be able to better manage the care and treatment of an individual diagnosed with BLBC.
PATIENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
Those who are currently afflicted by breast cancer, as well as those who are in remission, will have an interest in the VERESCA™ FOXC1 test as it affects them directly.
PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATIONS
Drug companies can now utilize the VERESCA FOXC1 IHC test to exclude non-BLBC patients from clinical trials, demonstrating clinical efficacy on the targeted population, advancing the field of personalized medicine.
Meet The VERESCA Leadership Team
3N Diagnostics is the UK affiliate of the US company, Onconostic Technologies. We work alongside our strategic partners in manufacturing and our network of distributors throughout the world.
We are a group of people who are using the power of medical innovation to improve diagnostics and prognostics in cancer care.
