NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Pacific Edge announced on Wednesday an agreement with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group for the evaluation of Pacific Edge's gene expression-based test for the detection of bladder cancer.
About 2,000 patients presenting with microscopic and macroscopic hematuria will be recruited as part of the Kaiser Permanente User Program research project, which is expected to begin later this year.
Urine samples will be collected and sent to Pacific Edge Diagnostic USA, the company's CLIA-registered laboratory in Hershey, Pa., for analysis with Pacific Edge's test called Cxbladder. Results will be collated with clinical information and analyzed independently by SCPMG, with final results of the program to be completed in early 2015, Pacific Edge said.
Cxbladder measures the gene expression levels of five biomarkers that represent a bladder cancer signature in order to help rule out cancer in patients. The test is also being evaluated in New Zealand, where the company is headquartered, in a clinical program by Mid-Central District Health Board in Palmerston North to establish the levels of patient benefits and savings that may be achieved using the test.