EXACT Sciences Corporation (NASDAQ: EXAS) today announced that a major gastroenterology journal has accepted for publication a multi-center, prospective study of EXACT’s Version 2 technology for early colorectal cancer detection using stool-based DNA testing. The study, conducted by Steven H. Itzkowitz, M.D, Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and his collaborators, was also recently presented in abstract form at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) in San Diego, California. With respect to the earliest cancer stages, Dukes’ A and B, the abstract data from DDW reported sensitivity above 85 percent on average, with specificity above 80 percent. Sensitivity in asymptomatic screening patients and symptomatic patients was similar. Early stage detection of colorectal cancer is critical, as five-year survival rates can exceed 95 percent among those whose colorectal cancers are detected at the earliest, most treatable, stages.

“We were very pleased to see that a simplified DNA marker panel could reliably detect such a large percentage of early stage colorectal cancers in a highly reproducible way,” commented Steven Itzkowitz, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Principal Investigator of the study. “It is also very gratifying to learn that this important study has been accepted for publication at a time when more attention is being focused on stool-based DNA detection for the millions of people who resist more invasive procedures.”

“Demonstrating that certain advances in molecular diagnostics that we discovered in my lab and licensed to EXACT Sciences can directly contribute to early cancer detection, and can be delivered in a non-invasive way, is a very exciting prospect for the health of our nation,” commented Sanford Markowitz, MD, PhD, of Case Western Reserve University Department of Medicine.  “From my standpoint, working with DNA and stool-based detection offers exciting avenues for ongoing research, even exploring non-invasive detection of pre-cancerous lesions, the important precursors to colon cancer.”

“Ever since the first studies on the utility of stool-based DNA for colorectal cancer detection appeared, we have seen regular improvement in test performance, efficiency, and simplicity,” commented Jeffrey R. Luber, President and Chief Executive Officer of EXACT Sciences Corporation. “Acceptance for publication of this latest study on our Version 2 technology underscores the rapid advancement in this area and the importance that the scientific and clinical community place on stool-based DNA detection of colorectal cancer.”

About Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the most deadly cancer among non-smoking men and women in the United States, and the second most deadly cancer overall. The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 150,000 cases will be diagnosed and 50,000 deaths are anticipated in 2008 due to this disease.Despite the availability of colorectal cancer screening and diagnostic tests for more than 20 years, the rate of early detection of colorectal cancer remains low, and deaths remain high. It is estimated that roughly one-third of colorectal cancer-related deaths could be saved if more people underwent regular screening. Early diagnosis results in a greater than 90 percent, five-year survival rate.

EXACT Sciences Corporation

EXACT Sciences Corporation uses applied genomics to develop patient-friendly screening technologies for use in the detection of cancer. EXACT maintains an exclusive license agreement with Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings (LabCorp®) relating to the Company’s intellectual property. EXACT Sciences’ stool-based DNA technology is included in the colorectal cancer screening guidelines of the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer (a group comprised of representatives from the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy), and the American College of Radiology. EXACT Sciences is based in Marlborough, Mass.

Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on historical information are express or implied forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, EXACT Sciences' expectations concerning the efficacy of its colorectal cancer screening technology, the publication of the clinical study on its Version 2 technology and management's plans, objectives and strategies. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond EXACT Sciences' control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. In particular, the risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the clinical performance and market acceptance of its technologies; the reproducibility of its research results in subsequent studies and in clinical practice; sufficient investment in the sales and marketing of EXACT Sciences' technologies; the success of its strategic relationship with LabCorp; EXACT Sciences' ability to license certain technologies or obtain raw materials for its technologies; the ability to convince Medicare and other third-party payors to provide adequate reimbursement for EXACT Sciences' technologies; the ability to convince medical practitioners to order tests using EXACT Sciences' technologies; the ability to increase the performance of our technologies; the ability of EXACT Sciences or LabCorp to lower the cost of stool-based DNA screening technologies through automating and simplifying key operational processes; the number of people who decide to be screened for colorectal cancer using EXACT Sciences' technologies; competition; the ability to protect EXACT Sciences' intellectual property and the cost of enforcing or defending EXACT Sciences in litigation relating to intellectual property rights; the possibility that other companies will develop and market novel or improved methods for detecting colorectal cancer; and the ability to raise additional capital on acceptable terms. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. EXACT Sciences undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by EXACT Sciences, see the disclosure contained in EXACT Sciences' public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC.