Biomarker News and Research

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A biomarker is a biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease. A biomarker may be used to see how well the body responds to a treatment for a disease or condition. Also called molecular marker and signature molecule.

The future of cancer treatment set to be transformed through the opening of new Cancer Institute

NHS patients will soon benefit from the opening of a new cancer centre specialising in the use of diagnostics for targeted cancer medicines used to treat some of the UK’s most common cancers...

11 May 2015

Removing bacterial biofilms could help prevent and treat colon cancers, study suggests

A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has uncovered a big clue to how bacteria may promote some colon cancers.

8 May 2015

Stanford University professor named recipient of 2015 ECOG-ACRIN Young Investigator Award

Heather Wakelee, MD, is the recipient of the 2015 ECOG-ACRIN Young Investigator Award, the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group announced today. Dr. Wakelee is associate professor of medicine in the Division of Oncology at the Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, Calif.

7 May 2015

EKF introduces specific biomarker test for early sepsis identification

EKF Diagnostics, the global diagnostics company, announces that it has introduced the Stanbio Chemistry Procalcitonin (PCT) LiquiColor® Assay.

From EKF Diagnostics 7 May 2015

First patient receives new 'resistance-busting' experimental skin cancer drug

A patient has become the first to receive a new 'resistance-busting' experimental skin cancer drug with the launch of a phase I clinical trial. The patient has received a new panRAF inhibitor - a new type of drug under development to address the problem of drug resistance in advanced skin cancer and a number of other cancer types.

6 May 2015

Neurocrine reports net loss of $1.2 million for first quarter 2015

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. today announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. For the first quarter of 2015, the Company reported a net loss of $1.2 million, or $0.01 loss per share, compared to a net loss of $11.8 million, or $0.17 loss per share, for the same period in 2014.

30 Apr 2015

CANCER-ID consortium aims to set up standard procedures for clinical validation of blood-based biomarkers

Blood-based biomarkers such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating free DNA (cfDNA), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are potential indicators for the tumor burden of patients living with cancer.

30 Apr 2015

International study finds that two-week diet swap for African-Americans may lower colon cancer risk

African-Americans and Africans who swapped their typical diets for just two weeks similarly exchanged their respective risks of colon cancer as reflected by alterations of their gut bacteria, according to an international study led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine published online today in Nature Communications.

29 Apr 2015

Dramatic effects on colon cancer risk for Americans and Africans when diet swapped

Scientists have found dramatic effects on risk factors for colon cancer when American and African volunteers swapped diets for just two weeks.

28 Apr 2015

PCDx test performs better than FoundationOne test in clinical study

Data from a small cohort published OncoTargets and Therapy today shows that the Paradigm Cancer Diagnostic Test (PCDx) performed better than Foundation Medicine's FoundationOne test across a number of key clinical variables, including turnaround time (TAT) and clinically actionable biomarker targets.

28 Apr 2015

Vermillion reports expanded medical policy coverage of OVA1 test

Vermillion, Inc., a bio-analytical solutions company focused on gynecologic disease, today announced expanded medical policy coverage of its OVA1 test, following Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's recent decision to include OVA1 in its medical policy guidelines.

28 Apr 2015

Molecular Health granted European patent for novel Erythropoietin receptor

Molecular Health announced today it has been granted a patent in Europe entitled "Tissue Protective Erythropoietin Receptor". This latest patent supports Molecular Health's discovery that EPHB4 is a novel receptor for Erythropoietin (EPO), where EPHB4 binds to EPO and promotes tumor growth.

27 Apr 2015

First CE marked FGF23 ELISA assay launched at Biomedica Immunoassays

The biomarker specialists at Biomedica Immunoassays, announced the launch of the first CE marked FGF23 (C-terminal) ELISA assay which specifically detects both intact and C-terminal fragments of FGF23 in human serum and plasma. The FGF23 ELISA assay complements the existing Biomedica assays directed against chronic kidney disease - mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) in a growing collection.

24 Apr 2015

Purdue University study sheds light on how decitabine drug reverses cell damage

A Purdue University study sheds light on how cell damage is reversed by the cancer drug decitabine and identifies a potential biomarker that could indicate a patient's stage of cancer and response to treatment.

23 Apr 2015

Sysmex Inostics to offer OncoBEAM CLIA laboratory services in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Sysmex Inostics, a subsidiary of Sysmex Corporation, today announced that they have signed an exclusive distributor agreement with IndivuTest GmbH, and its parent company Indivumed GmbH, a cancer research company focused on the development of individualized cancer diagnostics and therapies.

From Sysmex America, Inc. 22 Apr 2015

Study opens door to new treatment for hard-to-treat asthmatic children

Researchers have identified a biological basis for asthmatic children who do not respond well to corticosteroid treatment – currently the most effective treatment for chronic asthma and acute asthma attack.

21 Apr 2015

New UM SOM study reveals why thiazide drugs not effective in some patients

Every year, more than 120 million prescriptions are written worldwide for thiazide drugs, a group of salt-lowering medicines used to treat high blood pressure. These drugs are often work very well, and over decades have saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

21 Apr 2015

MGH researchers find probable mechanism associated with risk of developing serious diseases

Massachusetts General Hospital investigators have found the probable mechanism underlying a previously described biomarker associated with the risk of developing serious diseases ranging from cancer to cardiovascular disease and the risk of serious complications. In a paper published in the American Journal of Hematology, the research team reports finding that higher levels of a measure routinely taken as part of the complete blood count - the extent of variation in the size of red blood cells - is caused by reduced clearance of aging cells from the bloodstream.

20 Apr 2015

Scientists reveal three major subsets of KRAS-mutant LUAC

Mutations of the KRAS gene are commonly known to lead to cancer. However, deeper understanding of exactly how they do this continues to be explored by cancer researchers.

20 Apr 2015

Plaque can be used to predict, identify and treat diseases, say researchers

Scraped from the gums, teeth and tongue in the form of plaque, the researchers behind Canada's first plaque bank are betting that the bacterial content of plaque will open up a new frontier of medicine.

17 Apr 2015