Elsewhere, Celera Diagnostics, Abbott Labs and closely held Genomic Health also are pursuing prognostic gene tests for prostate cancer (and other tumors).
Prolaris, a prostate cancer prognostic that Meldrum thinks has the potential earning power of BRACAnalysis, is still groping for guidelines from urological societies.
Someday the ability to measure the level of stem cells in a tumor could lead to new prognostic tests that predict when a cancer is likely to accelerate, helping doctors customize treatment.