Epigenetic Tests Being Developed for Early Lung Cancer Detection

RiboMed Biotechnologies, Inc. (Carlsbad, CA, USA) has partnered with scientists at the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT; Vienna, Austria) to commercialize clinically validated lung cancer DNA methylation biomarkers.

The biomarkers will allow the early detection of lung cancer, as well as the subtyping of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) into adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, which are treated with different drugs. This detection and subtyping panel will not only allow physicians to diagnose the disease earlier but also will ensure that the patient receives the drug treatment that is specific for his/her type of cancer.

A proprietary affinity protein, MethylMagnet, to separate methylated and unmethylated DNA, and an extremely sensitive signal generation process, Abscription (abortive transcription) for detection were developed by RiboMed. The combination of these two technologies in MethylMeter assays allows RiboMed to quantitatively measure DNA methylation levels on multiple genes, even with small samples containing damaged DNA.

RiboMed’s MethylMeter Abscription-based assays provide sensitive and quantitative measurement of the extent of methylation of the regulatory regions of different genes. The assays work well in serum, saliva, sputum, urine, and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections, making them a good choice for oncology-based clinical diagnostic, prognostic, and theranostic epigenetic tests.

AIT’s detection and subtyping panel of DNA methylation biomarkers will be coupled with additional DNA methylation biomarkers being validated by RiboMed that will predict the probability of the patient’s response to the most common drugs used to treat lung cancer.

Dr. Michelle Hanna, RiboMed CEO noted, “The discovery and development of biomarker tests for drug response is becoming an essential component of cancer treatment. By coupling AIT’s diagnostic and subtyping biomarkers with other biomarkers that predict drug response, we will provide physicians with a single test with both diagnostic and theranostic information.”

The test will be developed and offered through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified RiboMed Clinical Services Laboratory.

Related Links:
RiboMed Biotechnologies
Austrian Institute of Technology