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Thoracic Surgery > Lung Cancer > Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer > EDR
The Extremen Drug Resistance (EDR) Assay
The EDR Assay provides information that can be critical to your care, by identifying chemotherapy drugs that are unlikely to be effective.
The Extreme Drug Resistance (EDR) Assay is an advanced laboratory test for cancer, also known as a "chemotherapy drug
resistance test." This test is performed by growing a portion of the cancer tumor in the presence of different chemotherapy
drugs in the laboratory. If the cancer cells grow in the presence of a very high (extreme) dosage of a chemotherapy
drug, studies have shown that the cancer is unlikely to respond to that drug in the patient's body. The test results are
usually released to the treating physician within 10 days of specimen receipt, so that the physician can select the best
chemotherapy regimen for the patient, without wasting valuable treatment time.
EDR Assay results have been widely published in scientific literature and have been shown to be 99% accurate in clinical
trials. An extensive bibliography, which you may choose to review with your physician, is available for downloading at
www.oncotech.com. EDR Assay results can always be used within standard guidelines for the treatment of any cancer type.
By eliminating inactive drugs from the therapy regimen, use of the EDR Assay avoids exposing patients to the toxicity of
those drugs that are unlikely to be effective in treating the tumor and can help to improve the quality of life of the cancer
patient during treatment.
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If you have been diagnosed with cancer and will be having surgery, your tumor can be sent for this special testing by your surgeon.
The Extreme Drug Resistance Assay requires living viable tumor cells to perform the assay. A specimen that is paraffin
embedded, fixed, minced, or frozen cannot be used. In addition, patients must not have had chemotherapy or radiation
therapy within 3 weeks of specimen collection. The assay can also be performed on other samples containing cancer
cells, on malignant fluids, for example.
If the patient is a potential candidate for chemotherapy treatment for cancer, the physician must order the test
immediately following surgery. The decision to order the test is usually made prior to surgery so that the appropriate
specimen handling materials can be ordered from the laboratory in advance in order to assure they are available at the
time of surgery.
Over 80,000 cancer patients have had their tumors tested by the EDR Assay.
If you have questions about the Extreme Drug Resistance (EDR) Assay, you can visit the Oncotech website at
www.oncotech.com for further information. Representatives are available in every region of the United States to answer
your physician's questions, or to facilitate the ordering of the test. For additional information regarding Oncotech
services, please have your doctor call an Oncotech representative at (800) 576-6326 for assistance.
CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE REPORT
 An ovarian cancer patient’s report shows
her tumor’s resistance to two
chemotherapydrugs (red bars). In
this case, she can be prescribed an
alternate regimen, which may increase
her chances of receiving a more
effective chemotherapy at the
beginning of her treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Oncotech EDR Assay?
The Extreme Drug Resistance Assay (EDR) Assay is a laboratory test performed on a patient's tumor cells. This lab test
can determine the probability of a tumor's resistance to a specific chemotherapy drug. If the tumor cells grow in the
presence of very high concentrations of chemotherapy drug, then the cancer cells are considered resistant to that drug.
How does the EDR Assay help the cancer patient?
Once the EDR testing is completed on a patient's tumor cells, a lab report is created which shows the probability of
resistance for each chemotherapy drug tested. Drugs that are shown to be in the Extreme Drug Resistance range are
evaluated by the patient's physician in order to determine the best course of treatment. Often, this means preventing
unnecessary patient exposure to toxic, ineffective chemotherapy drugs.
Is the EDR Assay right for me?
Only your doctor can determine if the EDR assay or any of Oncotech's other cancer testing services are right for you.
Please ask your physician about Oncotech's Extreme Drug Resistance Assay and prognostic and predictive marker
services.
How much does it cost?
Oncotech bills insurance directly and does not balance bill the patient. Patients may be responsible for co-payments or unmet
deductible amounts where required by law or insurance contract. Oncotech has negotiated reimbursement
contracts with many of the country's leading insurance carriers, including many managed care organizations. A Social Security
Administrative Law Judge has determined that Extreme Drug Resistance Assays are "part of the generally accepted medical
practice" and are "not experimental." Oncotech bills Medicare directly on an accept assignment basis. Oncotech will assist patients
in obtaining reimbursement and may provide indigent coverage where appropriate.
How do I get these tests ordered for me?
Your physician can directly order Oncotech laboratory tests if he or she has determined that the EDR Assay or other Oncotech
cancer testing services are right for you. The physician’s office can call 1-800-ONCOTECH for requisition forms and specimen
handling guidelines.
How long do results take?
Results for the EDR Assay are available in 7 days. Prognostic/predictive marker results are available in 3 days. Other
laboratory services vary depending on specific test ordered.
How do I get more information?
More information is available by contacting an Oncotech representative directly at (800) 576-6326.
Or e-mail us at support@oncotech.com.
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Information supplied with permission from Oncotech Inc. For more information regarding this valuable service speak to your physician or visit www.oncotech.com. |
References:
- American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures (2005). www.cancer.org
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Cancer Prevention and Control. *Last accessed March 2005.
www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung
- Mountain CF. Revisions in the International System for Staging Lung Cancer. Chest 1997; 111(6): 1710-7.
- Ginsberg RJ, Rubenstein LV. Randomized Trail of Lobectomy Versus Limited Resection for T1 N0 non-small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer Study Group.
- Annals of Thoracic Surgery 1995; 60(3): 615-22.
- Komaki R, Cox JD, Hartz AJ, et al. Characteristics of long-term survivors after treatment for inoperable carcinoma of the lung.American Journal of Clinical Oncology 1985; 8(5): 362-70.
- Emami B, Kaiser L, Simpson J, et al. Postoperative radiation therapy in non-small cell lung cancer.American Journal Clinical Oncology 1997; 20(5): 441-8.
- Van Raemdonck DE, Schneider A, Ginsberg RJ. Surgical treatment for higher stage non-small cell lung cancer.Annals of Thoracic Surgery 1992; 54(5):
999-1013.
- Ihde DC. Chemotherapy of lung cancer.New England Journal of Medicine 1992; 327:1434-41.
Oncotech EDR Assay Technology. www.oncotech.com
- Oncotech EDR Assay Technology. www.oncotech.com
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