This week, Epigenomics said it had validated two prognostic markers for a breast-cancer diagnostic that could compete with Genomic Health's Oncotype Dx, but was abandoned by former partner Roche Diagnostics, the company said this week.

The study examined the use of Epigenomics' main DNA methylation biomarker, PITX2, as well as a secondary marker, to predict breast cancer recurrence in 395 patients with estrogen receptor-positive, node-positive cancer who had been treated with the chemotherapeutic anthracycline as adjuvant therapy.