Offering a clinical perspective, Dr. Jennifer C. Obel, moderator of the teleconference and a medical oncologist with the NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, Ill., noted that the two tests "are very similar in some regards in terms of the questions they answer to identify stage II patients at higher risk of recurrence." Hence, clinicians’ choice between them might be driven by logistic factors, such as the steps required for tissue preparation. At the same time, she cautioned that, thus far, both tests have been shown to provide only prognostic information.
"Those tests help to further identify patients at higher risk for recurrence, though neither test helps to ... predict benefit from chemotherapy," said Dr. Obel, who did not report any relevant conflicts of interest.
Dr. Rosenberg reported that he had no relevant conflicts of interest. Some of the other coinvestigators have employment or leadership positions with or own stock in Agendia.