SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (MYGN) today announced new data published in Clinical Cancer Research that showed the myPlan Lung Cancer test is a significant predictor of lung cancer death in patients with early-stage, resectable lung adenocarcinoma and may be a valuable tool for selecting which early-stage patients should be considered for additional post-surgical chemotherapy.

"Lung cancer remains one of the most difficult-to-treat cancers. New prognostic markers to guide treatment decisions in early-stage, non-small cell lung cancer are necessary to improve outcomes for patients," said Edward S. Kim, M.D., co-author and chair of the Department of Solid Tumor Oncology and Investigational Therapeutics, Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte NC. "In this verification study, the 31-gene cell cycle progression score was demonstrated to be a significant prognostic marker in resectable lung adenocarcinoma in that it stratifies patients' risk more effectively than conventional clinical parameters. This new information will further improve our ability to define the most appropriate treatment plan for surgically-treated, lung-cancer patients."

The purpose of this study was to investigate the significance of the myPlan Lung Cancer test as a predictor of survival in patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma in three independent data sets. The primary endpoint was overall survival as measured by disease related death within five years of surgery. Additionally, the study assessed the prognostic value of the score as compared to the conventional clinical variables of disease progression including age, stage of disease, gender, smoking status and tumor size.

The myPlan Lung Cancer test measured mRNA expression levels of 31 cell cycle proliferation genes and 15 housekeeping genes in stage I and II tumor samples from a total of 841 patients. The results showed that myPlan Lung Cancer consistently was the strongest independent predictor of 5-year disease survival and remained the dominant prognostic marker in the presence of conventional clinical variables.

"myPlan Lung Cancer is an important new molecular diagnostic tool that will help physicians in predicting the aggressiveness of early-stage lung cancer in conjunction with conventional clinical parameters," said Mark Capone, president of Myriad Genetics Laboratories. "Publication of these data is an important milestone as we prepare to launch myPlan Lung Cancer later this fiscal year."

The full publication of this study is available on the Clinical Cancer Research web site at: http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2013/09/18/1078-0432.CCR-13-0596.full.pdf+html

About Myriad Genetics

Myriad Genetics is a leading molecular diagnostic company dedicated to making a difference in patients' lives through the discovery and commercialization of transformative tests to assess a person's risk of developing disease, guide treatment decisions and assess risk of disease progression and recurrence. Myriad's portfolio of molecular diagnostic tests are based on an understanding of the role genes play in human disease and were developed with a commitment to improving an individual's decision making process for monitoring and treating disease. Myriad is focused on strategic directives to introduce new products, including companion diagnostics, as well as expanding internationally. For more information on how Myriad is making a difference, please visit the Company's website: http://www.myriad.com.

Myriad, the Myriad logo, myRisk are trademarks or registered trademarks of Myriad Genetics, Inc. in the United States and foreign countries. MYGN-F, MYGN-G

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