8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT



                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


        Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): APRIL 18, 2001


                           EXACT SCIENCES CORPORATION
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


                                    DELAWARE
                 ----------------------------------------------
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

        000-32179                                         02-0478229
- ------------------------                      ---------------------------------
(Commission File Number)                      (IRS Employer Identification No.)


 63 GREAT ROAD, MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS                      06511
- ----------------------------------------                  ----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                  (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (978) 897-2800




ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

         On April 18, 2001, EXACT Sciences Corporation issued a press release, a
copy of which is being filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K,
such press release being incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

(c) Exhibits

99.1     Press Release dated April 18, 2001.




                                   SIGNATURES



         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                           EXACT Sciences Corporation


April 18, 2001                             By:      /s/ John A. McCarthy
                                           Name:    John A. McCarthy, Jr.
                                           Title:   Executive Vice President
                                                    and Chief Financial Officer




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NUMBER    DESCRIPTION

99.1              Press Release dated April 18, 2001.

EX-99.1

                                                                  EXHIBIT 99.1

EXACT SCIENCES                                                   Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:




MEDIA:                          MEDIA:                             INVESTOR RELATIONS:
                                                             
Mary Johnson                    Bob Rochelle                       Amy Hedison
Fleishman-Hillard               EXACT Sciences                     EXACT Sciences
P: (617) 267-9700, ext. 310     P: (978) 897-2800,ext. 260         P: (978) 897-2800, ext. 252
E: johnsonm@fleishman.com       E: brochelle@exactsciences.com     E: ahedison@exactsciences.com



                 EXACT SCIENCES TO HOST CONFERENCE CALL ON FIRST
                     QUARTER 2001 RESULTS ON APRIL 25, 2001

         MAYNARD, MASS. - APRIL 18, 2001 - EXACT Sciences Corporation
(NASDAQ: EXAS) announced today that it will host a conference call on its
first quarter 2001 financial and operating results at 8:30 a.m. EDT on
Wednesday, April 25, 2001. A live Webcast of the conference call and a replay
also will be available at www.exactsciences.com. The conference call, replay
and Webcast are open to all interested parties.

         EXACT Sciences will announce its first quarter 2001 financial and
operating results on Wednesday, April 25, 2001, prior to the conference call.

         Information for the call is as follows:
         Domestic callers: 877-692-2587
         International callers: 973-628-9554

A replay of the conference call will be available for 48 hours beginning one
hour after the completion of the conference call. Information for the replay is
as follows:

         Domestic callers: 877-519-4471
         International callers: 973-341-3080
         PIN #: 2552053

ABOUT EXACT SCIENCES CORPORATION

EXACT Sciences Corporation is an applied genomics company that has developed
proprietary technologies that may be used for the early detection of several
common cancers. EXACT Sciences has selected colorectal cancer as the first
application of its technologies. Colorectal cancer is the most deadly cancer
among non-smokers, and is curable if detected early. 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. EXACT Sciences
believes its genomics-based technologies will enable early detection of
colorectal cancer so that more people can be effectively treated. Founded in
1995, EXACT Sciences is based in Maynard, Mass. Detailed information on EXACT
Sciences can be found on the World Wide Web at www.exactsciences.com.
Information on EXACT Sciences also is available at 866-IR4-EXAS.

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