• Aureon Laboratories (Yonkers, New York) has introduced Prostate Px+, a test that predicts prostate cancer progression and disease recurrence at the time of diagnosis. "Prostate Px+ is the first prognostic test to provide this critical information at diagnosis. This technology represents a new integrated approach known as systems pathology that combines molecular biomarkers, histological and clinical information with advanced mathematics," said Ricardo Mesa-Tejada, MD, VP of pathology and medical director of Aureon Laboratories. "At the time a man is diagnosed, Prostate Px+ will forecast disease progression after treatment, detect high-risk patients presenting as low risk and undetectable by other methods, reclassify intermediate-risk patients and help identify those with less aggressive disease. Aureon is a laboratory describing its role as advancing personalized cancer treatment through predictive pathology.

• Clarient (Aliso Viejo, California) reported its new offering, KRAS, which has been validated as a laboratory-developed test to be used as a predictive molecular biomarker for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). In colorectal cancers, EGF-receptors transmit a series of signals through a complex path of intracellular proteins. These signals ultimately instruct the cancer cell to undergo a transcription process leading to cancer progression. Anti-EGF-receptor therapies such as panitumumab (Vectibix from Amgen) and cetuximab (Erbitux from ImClone Systems) work by blocking the activation of EGF-receptor. By blocking activation of the receptor, these drugs are successful in inhibiting downstream events that lead to malignant signaling. KRAS is located downstream of EGF-receptor and is a vital component in orchestrating this signaling process. Clarient specializes in anatomic pathology and molecular testing services resource for pathologists, oncologists, and the pharmaceutical industry.

• Neoprobe (Dublin, Ohio) said it has introduced an enhanced gamma detection control unit, the Neoprobe GDS (Model 2300), in connection with the company's marketing partner, Ethicon Endo-Surgery. The Neoprobe GDS control unit contains internal circuitry that enables it to communicate with Neoprobe's other wireless probes without the necessity of an external adapter. Neoprobe's wireless probes are available with either straight or angled tips and can also be used with all previous models of the company's neo2000 control unit (Models 2000, 2100 and 2200) using an external serial port adapter. Neoprobe makes oncology and cardiovascular surgical and diagnostic products.