Novel technologies for molecular diagnosis and early detection of cancer

23-Apr-2002

Relab AG’s GeneStick® platform is a unique Biochip format that was specially developed for diagnostic applications. Up to 400 different biomolecules such as DNA are immobilized covalently as capture probes on the front end of the novel plastic stick, thus allowing a massive number of parameters (e.g., cancer genes) to be analyzed in parallel. A sensitive and reasonably priced chemiluminescence detector developed especially for this type of chip provides signal patterns for all integrated parameters within a few seconds, with just one mouse button click.

The system is already being used successfully to diagnose colorectal cancer through the detection of mutations in the K-ras gene in malignant cells isolated from stool samples. Another application allows bronchial tumors to be detected through the analysis of DNA isolated from sputum samples. To do this, the degree of methylation of promoter regions of various cancer genes is determined.

The GeneStick platform is an optimal adjunct to technologies already developed by Relab AG. The ISOLde® technique enables microtumors (which are not feasible with imaging techniques) to be isolated from, and detected in, bodily fluids such as blood before primary tumors or metastases become visible. Molecular characterization of microtumors allows prognoses to be made regarding patients’ survival times and enable the clinician to select optimal therapies and monitor their success even before a relapse occurs. Such tests are extremely costly to perform using traditional techniques because a separate assay is needed for each gene. The GeneStick technology substantially reduces the cost of these tests and at the same time makes them more beneficial for the patients.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/10259/novel-technologies-for-molecular-diagnosis-and-early-detection-of-cancer.html