One hundred eighty thousand women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Eighty thousand will
start taking the drug tamoxifen to prevent the recurrence of their ER (estrogen receptor) positive breast
cancers. The treatment is successful in two-thirds of the women who take it. Genelex Corporation (Seattle)
is now offering Tamoxitest™ that could improve this success rate to greater than 90% by addressing both
of the common causes of tamoxifen treatment failure.
Ten-percent of women are unable to produce the enzyme CYP 2D6 essential for tamoxifen effectiveness
and need an alternative treatment. Another 35% have reduced functioning so their physician should
consider a higher dose or other treatments. DNA testing identifies both classes of patients.
Even with the right genetics, interactions with prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal remedies can also
reduce tamoxifen effectiveness. To prevent this, Tamoxitest™ includes access to GeneMedRx. This
interpretive software warns patients and physicians if tamoxifen benefit is at risk and offers safer
alternatives.
“Five years is a long time to take a medicine that may have little to no effect in preventing cancer
recurrence,” states Genelex Corporation’s CEO, Howard Coleman.
Tamoxitest™ is advocated by the National Foundation for Cancer Research and is based on research
completed at the University of Indiana and Mayo Clinic. This simple, but powerful test requiring only a few
cheek swabs is steadily gaining ground with the mainstream medical community.
Los Angeles oncologist Dr. Michael Benjamin, MD is one of the first physicians to embrace this
technology. "The Genelex gene profiling technology is a powerful tool to help my patients. With tamoxifen
testing, we can appropriately individualize treatment based on patients' ability to process the medicine.”
Benjamin regularly advises his patients to take Tamoxitest™.“ Genelex tamoxifen testing helps me be
smarter about who I treat with tamoxifen, and why. I can take the discoveries made in their labs right to the
patient’s bedside,” states Benjamin. “I see it as the wave of the future in medicine.”
Maura, a breast cancer patient, says that she ordered Tamoxitest™ after she was diagnosed. Found to
be an intermediate metabolizer, the patient and her doctor have opened a dialogue about her dose of
tamoxifen. “It was worth the information – and peace of mind – I received,” she concluded. Most
insurance companies cover the test.
Breast cancer patients and healthcare providers can learn more about Tamoxitest™ at
www.Tamoxitest.com.
Dr. Michael Benjamin’s website is www.interactMD.com