RICHMOND, British Columbia, July 9, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- BioCurex (OTCBB:BOCX) is pleased to periodically educate its shareholders regarding the increasingly voluminous material in the cancer diagnostics arena.
In recent publications, there has been mention of the increasing possibility of genetic testing for various disease, degenerative and cancer states. Genetic testing is a process that looks for inherited genetic alterations that may increase your risk of certain cancers. This type of testing may show whether the risk in a family is passed through their genes.
The genetic test itself is a simple process that usually involves drawing a small amount of blood from your arm for analysis by a testing lab. The test is usually performed on DNA taken from white blood cells. The analysis, however, can take weeks or even months to complete because the DNA must first be isolated and then time-consuming genetic tests performed. Then the tests have to be repeated to confirm any positive result. For breast and ovarian cancer risk, the testing involves looking for altered genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. A woman with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 alteration is at higher risk for developing breast, ovarian, and other cancers than a woman without an alteration. However, not every woman who has an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene will get cancer, because genes are not the only factor that affects cancer risk. Most cases of breast cancer do not involve altered genes that are inherited. At most, about 1 in 10 breast cancer cases can be explained by inherited alterations in BRCA1 and 2 genes.
The following information can be viewed at Cancer.gov for more detailed discussion: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/Genetic-Testing-for-Breast-and-Ovarian-Cancer-Risk
You can make choices that help lower your risk of getting cancer or help detect cancer. Early monitoring is the key. In breast and ovarian cancers, this can include more frequent breast and pelvic exams, mammograms, breast MRI, breast self-exams, ultrasound of the ovaries and breasts, and blood tests.
RECAF technology and Genetic Testing
RECAF technology could become more and more utilized as genetic testing improves in specificity and frequency. That is, the genetic test will only provide information as to the potential for a person to develop a type of cancer, but not 'when or if' they will get cancer. Therefore, RECAF testing would logically be done more frequently in these persons who are identified at risk. Further, the actual amount of RECAF in any person can be monitored more ideally if the test is done with regularity so as to note any slight change in the amount of RECAF present. This type of 'personification' of RECAF testing could be the most accurate method to detect early cancers. Previous studies have shown RECAF to detect approximately 90% of early stage breast cancer in blinded studies, for example. Therefore, BioCurex continues to envision the use of RECAF technology for detection of many types of cancers to become commonplace and essential in the fight against cancer. Genetic testing would provide a selected group for RECAF testing and therefore augment RECAF's position in the marketplace.
About BioCurex:
BioCurex, Inc. is a biotechnology company that is developing products based on patented/proprietary technology in the areas of cancer diagnosis, imaging and therapy. The technology identifies a cancer marker known as RECAF(tm), which is found on malignant cells from a variety of cancer types but is absent in most normal or benign cells.
BioCurex has signed a licensing agreement with Abbott Laboratories for BioCurex's RECAF(tm) Cancer technology as outlined in a joint press release dated March 29, 2005. The release noted that the cancer marker RECAF(tm) has emerged as a potential biomarker that may be useful in the development of new cancer diagnostics tests. Preliminary studies from the investigators at BioCurex have reported a high level of clinical sensitivity and specificity for RECAF in many of the most common cancers, including prostate, breast, colorectal, lung and others.
To read more about the Company, please visit the News section in our web site (www.biocurex.com).
Note:
The Company has not authorized the release of this information in any form that contravenes the Communication Act and will not be responsible for unsolicited massive distribution of this material by e-mail or facsimile by unauthorized parties. Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning given to that term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Since these statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the Company's actual results could differ materially from expected results.