LabMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News Expo Clinical Chem. Molecular Diagnostics Hematology Immunology Microbiology Pathology Technology Industry Focus

Biomarker Panel Shows Promise for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 13 Oct 2010
Print article
Preliminary data on the development of a panel of biomarkers for the diagnosis of prostate cancer appears to be highly significant.

In a pilot study, a set of biomarkers was identified which can distinguish prostate cancer from control samples with both sensitivity and specificity far higher than existing diagnostic tests.

Oxford Gene Technology (OGT; Oxford, UK) developed the Sense Proteomic functional protein array platform, which uses over a thousand correctly folded proteins to detect autoantibodies in prostate cancer serum samples. Using data analysis strategies, the company identified panels of multiple biomarkers, which may have clinical utility in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Seventy-three prostate cancer and 60 control samples were used to identify a set of biomarkers, which can distinguish prostate cancer from control samples with both sensitivity and specificity above 90%-- a figure well above the standard for prostate specific antigen (PSA). The data were presented at the Fourth American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) International Conference: Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development, in Denver (CO, USA) during September 27-30, 2010.

Screening for prostate cancer using PSA is controversial as it has low specificity (generally less than 50%), which generates high false-positive rates, resulting in unnecessary surgical and radiotherapy procedures. The development of autoantibodies associated with prostate cancer, and their appearance prior to symptoms in other cancers, makes them attractive as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Dr. John Anson, OGT's vice president of biomarker discovery, said: "These initial data are very satisfying, so much so that we have already instigated a major follow-on clinical study involving 1800 samples to further develop and validate the biomarker panel.”

The new trial has been rigorously designed; it includes 400 prostate cancer samples and an equal number of matched normal samples, as well as around 150 samples of other cancers and several hundred samples from patients shown to have other diseases of the prostate. The latter can present similar symptoms to prostate cancer and can, in many cases, raise PSA levels and trigger a biopsy. OGT expects its biomarker panel to discriminate between prostate cancer and these other diseases.

Related Links:
Oxford Gene Technology
American Association for Cancer Research

Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Magnetic Bead Separation Modules
MAG and HEATMAG
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test
GPP-100 Anti-CCP Kit
New
Gold Member
TORCH Panel Rapid Test
Rapid TORCH Panel Test

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The 3D printed miniature ionizer is a key component of a mass spectrometer (Photo courtesy of MIT)

3D Printed Point-Of-Care Mass Spectrometer Outperforms State-Of-The-Art Models

Mass spectrometry is a precise technique for identifying the chemical components of a sample and has significant potential for monitoring chronic illness health states, such as measuring hormone levels... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The CAPILLARYS 3 DBS devices have received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance (Photo courtesy of Sebia)

Next Generation Instrument Screens for Hemoglobin Disorders in Newborns

Hemoglobinopathies, the most widespread inherited conditions globally, affect about 7% of the population as carriers, with 2.7% of newborns being born with these conditions. The spectrum of clinical manifestations... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The AI predictive model identifies the most potent cancer killing immune cells for use in immunotherapies (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

AI Predicts Tumor-Killing Cells with High Accuracy

Cellular immunotherapy involves extracting immune cells from a patient's tumor, potentially enhancing their cancer-fighting capabilities through engineering, and then expanding and reintroducing them into the body.... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The T-SPOT.TB test is now paired with the Auto-Pure 2400 liquid handling platform for accurate TB testing (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Integrated Solution Ushers New Era of Automated Tuberculosis Testing

Tuberculosis (TB) is responsible for 1.3 million deaths every year, positioning it as one of the top killers globally due to a single infectious agent. In 2022, around 10.6 million people were diagnosed... Read more