"The approval of HERCEPTIN for patients with advanced stomach or esophageal cancer represents a significant advance in personalized medicine," said Dr. Catherine Streutker, Director of Surgical Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital and Assistant Professor, University of Toronto. "HER2 testing these patients enables physicians to quickly optimize treatment outcomes, as it allows healthcare resources to be directed towards those patients who are most likely to benefit from HERCEPTIN, while those who are not can be redirected to other treatment options."

Stomach cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the world and is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, in 2010 there will be 2,900 new cases of stomach cancer and 1,850 Canadians will die from the disease. The highest estimated rates of incidence of stomach cancer for 2010 will occur in Ontario (1,090), Quebec (800), British Columbia (360) and Alberta (255).

Source: ROCHE