IGEN Technology Used to Detect Hard-to-Find Colon Cancer Cells
Research Shows ORIGEN(R) Technology's Potential Utility For Integrated Health Care
GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Using the patented ORIGEN© technology developed by IGEN International, Inc. (Nasdaq: IGEN - news), researchers have identified colon cancer cells not normally detected by conventional diagnostic methods. Investigators from the John Wayne Cancer Institute (JWCI), Santa Monica, Calif., presented this research in New Orleans this week at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
The research demonstrates ORIGEN© technology's potential utility for gene-based cancer testing, a field likely to grow substantially in the wake of the sequencing of the human genome. The annual market today for cancer tests is approximately $500 million worldwide and has double-digit growth prospects.
``This exciting research shows great promise for integrated health care, where a new generation of gene-based cancer tests could be used to manage individual patient care,'' said Samuel J. Wohlstadter, IGEN's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. ``IGEN's ORIGEN© technology is well suited to such applications. We believe the opportunities in this area will be enormous, as the revolution in genomics identifies more genes associated with various cancers.''
The JWCI investigators detected micrometastases, or small secondary tumors, in people with early-stage colon cancer by determining whether three particular genes were expressed, or ``turned on,'' in the patients' tumor-draining lymph nodes. Micrometastases often go undetected by conventional diagnostic methods. IGEN's ORIGEN© technology may improve diagnosis of patients with metastases, or cancers spreading in the body, and may be useful in ``staging'' of disease -- determining the presence and site of metastases in order to plan treatment.
``The new test one day may help improve staging of disease and determine which patients will benefit from adjuvant therapy for the control and prevention of spreading of early-stage colon cancer to other organs,'' said Dave S.B. Hoon, Ph.D., Director of Molecular Oncology at JWCI. He cautioned that the new test remains investigational and is currently being used for research purposes only.
Using ORIGEN© technology, Hoon's group is developing cancer diagnostic tests designed to be more sensitive, more reproducible, and less expensive than current techniques.
The new test was developed in conjunction with a new surgical staging procedure -- originated by Anton Bilchik, M.D., of JWCI -- known as lymphatic mapping and dissection of the sentinel lymph node. This procedure identifies the draining lymph node most likely to have micrometastases in early-stage colon cancer.
The mission of the John Wayne Cancer Institute at St. John's Hospital and Health Center is to prevent, treat, and cure cancer in all forms and to improve the quality and extend the life of cancer patients.
IGEN supports basic research and develops and markets products that incorporate its proprietary ORIGEN© technology for detection and measurement of a wide variety of substances, including small molecules, proteins, DNA, and microorganisms. ORIGEN© technology is used in drug discovery and development, clinical diagnostics, and food and environmental safety testing. It provides a unique combination of speed, sensitivity, flexibility, and ease of use for a broad range of applications on a single technology platform. Products using ORIGEN© technology are marketed by IGEN and its licensees, Roche Diagnostics, Organon Teknika, and Eisai Company and are used in research and development by most of the world's top pharmaceutical companies. More information about IGEN can be found at igen.com .
Statements in this release, including those that may relate to new product plans and business prospects, are forward-looking statements. Actual results might differ materially from these statements due to risks and uncertainties, including the impact of competitive products and pricing, market acceptance of new products, market conditions, enforcement of IGEN's intellectual property rights, and access to and enforcement of the intellectual property rights of others. A more detailed description of these and other risks applicable to IGEN appears in the company's documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on request from IGEN. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
IGEN and ORIGEN© are registered trademarks of IGEN International, Inc.
SOURCE: IGEN International, Inc. |
