Ausgabe zur MEDICA 2019

30 Ausg.Nr._22/2019 diagnostic W ith GynTect, onc- gnostics GmbH has launched a molecular diagnostic test that aids gynae- cologists in the diagnosis of cer- vical cancer. As the test is rapid, safe and non-invasive, it helps to relieve stress on patients who are in an emotional stress situation following abnormal findings. In cervical cancer screening, an abnormal Pap smear and/or a positive HPV test result indicate potential cancer. Whether there is actually cervical cancer, or it is just a precancerous stage will become clear in further examinations. Af- fected women are exposed to va- rious stressful situations: Atten- ding physicians appoint affected women at short intervals in order to observe whether abnormalities are diminishing or worsening. Women often have to wait for an appointment at a specialist clinic where colposcopy and conisation may be performed. This may cause health problems. After conisation, for example, the risk of suffering a preterm birth, or a miscarriage during a subsequent pregnancy increases considerably. Unclear Situations Stress Patients A survey confirms how stressful this situation is for affected wo- men. More than 3,700 women with abnormal findings in cervical cancer screenings were interview- ed online. More than half of them had recurrent abnormal findings for more than six months. Almost 70 percent of them are concerned about developing cancer. About half of them are afraid of dying of cancer. About 35 percent of them expressed a strong desire to have children. And almost half of them stated that the risk of a preterm birth after conisation influenced their family planning. These initi- al results already show their emo- tional distress. This study will be published in full shortly. Innovation in Cervical Cancer Diagnostics The innovative GynTect diag- nostic test offers gynaecologists, and thus also affected women, an alternative for the clarification of abnormalities found in cervical cancer screenings. The test dis- tinguishes between abnormali- ties in the cervix that heal on their own, and those that may lead to cancer. To perform the GynTect test, a smear sample from the cervix is enough. Gynaecologists collect samples from the patients and send them to a laboratory. Results can be obtained within one working day. This results in three important advantages for patients: Diagnosis is quick, non-invasive, and can help to avoid overtreatment. In addition, patients are 'released' from the vicious circle of repeated clarifi- cation examinations. Biomarkers detect Cervical Cancer GynTect is a molecular test based on biomarkers. It recognizes six regions in the human genome (DNA) which are only present in methylated form during the growth of cancer cells. Methyla- tion of these GynTect biomarkers occurs specifically in cervical can- cer, or its preliminary stages, but not in healthy cervical tissues. In the laboratory, methylation is fixed using bisulfite treatment, and specific genomic regions are analysed using PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Only originally methylated DNA regions are am- plified in the PCR. GynTect is ap- proved for the PCR systems ABI 7500 Real-Time and cobas ® z 480 Analyzer. Epigenetic Biomarkers in Cancer Diagnostics Oncgnostics GmbH develops diagnostic tests that detect cha- racteristic epigenetic changes, i.e. DNA methylation in cancer cells. The highly informative bio- markers identified and patented by oncgnostics constitute the company's basis. In addition to GynTect for the detection of cer- vical cancer, oncgnostics GmbH is also developing diagnostic tests for head and neck tumours, and ovarian cancer. The company will be present at MEDICA, in Hall 15, Stand L 29. GynTect: Innovation in Cancer Diagnostics Biomarkers detect tumour cells non-invasively www.oncgnostics.com