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.

Study shows utility of cfDNA blood tests for breast cancer patients

Researchers from Chronix Biomedical and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced that results from a pilot study demonstrating the utility of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) blood tests as a companion diagnostic for breast cancer patients are to be reported in a poster presentation titled "Modulation of breast cancer cell-free DNA with surgical resection" (Abstract #11060) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (ASCO 2013) being held from May 31 through June 4, 2013 in Chicago. The blood test detects cfDNA that is released into the blood stream by damaged and dying cancer cells.

1 Jun 2013

NanoString Technologies to present clinical study of Prosigna Breast Cancer Assay at ASCO 2013

NanoString Technologies, Inc., a privately held provider of life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products, today announced that a clinical study of the Prosigna Breast Cancer Assay will be presented during the Breast Cancer Oral Abstract Session at the 2013 Annual American Society of Clinical Oncology Meeting on Sunday, June 2.

From NanoString Technologies 1 Jun 2013

Glioblastoma patients treated with bevacizumab have deterioration in neurocognitive function

Many glioblastoma patients treated with bevacizumab (Avastin-) have significant deterioration in neurocognitive function, symptoms and quality of life. Not only that, the changes often predict treatment outcomes, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

1 Jun 2013

Researchers discover potential biomarkers to identify patients with head and neck cancer

Researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center will present data at the 49th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology on Saturday, June 1, which shows the discovery of potential biomarkers that may be used to identify patients with head and neck cancer whose tumors are unlikely to respond to treatment by the targeted therapy cetuximab-a type of monoclonal antibody.

1 Jun 2013

Discovery opens doors to new therapies for sepsis

Despite numerous advances in treating infections and disease, effective treatments for sepsis remain elusive. A new discovery published in the June 2013 issue of The FASEB Journal not only could help health care providers predict who is more and less likely to develop sepsis, but it also opens the doors to new therapies that actually address the root cause of the problem, rather than just managing the symptoms.

31 May 2013

Be ready for the next generation of cancer treatments

We cordially invite you to attend Markers in Cancer, a joint meeting by ASCO, EORTC & NCI which will be held 7 - 9 November 2013 in Brussels.

31 May 2013

Mayo Clinic researchers envision new way to detect early onset of Alzheimer's disease

Blood offers promise as a way to detect Alzheimer's disease at its earliest onset, Mayo Clinic researchers say. They envision a test that would detect distinct metabolic signatures in blood plasma that are synonymous with the disease -- years before patients begin showing cognitive decline.

30 May 2013

Researchers use data to identify different forms of prostate cancers and effective treatment options

Some prostate cancer patients unnecessarily undergo surgery or harsh treatments because science fails to identify the differences between slow-growing and aggressive forms of the disease. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes are developing technology that allows patients to safely choose to do nothing, opt for relatively mild treatments or take drastic measures.

24 May 2013

Some aggressive forms of prostate cancer have similar genetic origins

Mayo Clinic researchers have used next generation genomic analysis to determine that some of the more aggressive prostate cancer tumors have similar genetic origins, which may help in predicting cancer progression. The findings appear online today in the journal Cancer Research.

24 May 2013

Mayo Clinic, Cancer Genetics form joint venture to improve cancer care

Mayo Clinic and Cancer Genetics Inc. today launched OncoSpire Genomics, a joint venture with the singular goal of improving cancer care by discovering and commercializing diagnostic tests that leverage next-generation sequencing.

23 May 2013

UC Irvine chemists create new method to identify clinically usable markers for prostate cancer in urine

Early screening for prostate cancer could become as easy for men as personal pregnancy testing is for women, thanks to UC Irvine research published today in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

23 May 2013

A1-PI treatment slows progression of emphysema in patients with AATD

Treatment with an Alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (A1-PI), a naturally occurring protein that protects lung tissue from breakdown and protects the lung's elasticity, is effective in slowing the progression of emphysema in patients with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), a life-threatening genetic disorder, according to a new study presented at the 2013 American Thoracic Society International Conference.

22 May 2013

Systemic inflammation is linked with depression in COPD patients, say researchers

Depression is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has been linked with disease severity and impaired quality of life. Now, for the first time, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have linked the systemic inflammation associated with COPD with depression in these patients.

22 May 2013

Multiple studies examine ideal biomarkers for Huntington's disease

While Huntington's disease (HD) is currently incurable, the HD research community anticipates that new disease-modifying therapies in development may slow or minimize disease progression. The success of HD research depends upon the identification of reliable and sensitive biomarkers to track disease and evaluate therapies, and these biomarkers may eventually be used as outcome measures in clinical trials. Biomarkers could be especially helpful to monitor changes during the time prior to diagnosis and appearance of overt symptomatology.

21 May 2013

Stronger epigenetic changes in estrogen responsive genes linked to postpartum depression

The epigenetic modifications, which alter the way genes function without changing the underlying DNA sequence, can apparently be detected in the blood of pregnant women during any trimester, potentially providing a simple way to foretell depression in the weeks after giving birth, and an opportunity to intervene before symptoms become debilitating.

21 May 2013

Researchers identify novel biomarkers for predicting mortality in ICU patients

A metabolic profile of intensive care unit patients based on biomarkers of four metabolites can be used to accurately predict mortality, according to a new study.

21 May 2013

Promising method to distinguish pancreatic cancer from chronic pancreatitis

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed a promising method to distinguish between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis - two disorders that are difficult to tell apart. A molecular marker obtained from pancreatic "juices" can identify almost all cases of pancreatic cancer, their study shows.

20 May 2013

Alnylam reports pre-clinical data from ALN-AS1 program for treatment of AIP

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has presented key pre-clinical proof-of-concept data from its RNAi therapeutic program targeting aminolevulinate synthase-1 (ALAS-1) for the treatment of porphyria including acute intermittent porphyria.

18 May 2013

NW Bio starts Phase III clinical trial with DCVax-L for brain cancer at King's College Hospital in UK

Northwest Biotherapeutics, a biotechnology company developing DCVax-L personalized immune therapies for solid tumor cancers, today announced that its Phase III clinical trial with DCVax-L for brain cancer has been initiated at King's College Hospital in the UK.

17 May 2013

Previstage GCC Colorectal Cancer Staging Test study to be presented at 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting

DiagnoCure Inc., today announced that results from a large validation study of the PrevistageTM GCC Colorectal Cancer Staging Test have been selected for presentation at the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, taking place in Chicago, Illinois from May 31 to June 4, 2013.

16 May 2013

Biomarker News and Research

Further Reading

Study shows utility of cfDNA blood tests for breast cancer patients

NanoString Technologies to present clinical study of Prosigna Breast Cancer Assay at ASCO 2013

Glioblastoma patients treated with bevacizumab have deterioration in neurocognitive function

Researchers discover potential biomarkers to identify patients with head and neck cancer

Discovery opens doors to new therapies for sepsis

Be ready for the next generation of cancer treatments

Mayo Clinic researchers envision new way to detect early onset of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers use data to identify different forms of prostate cancers and effective treatment options

Some aggressive forms of prostate cancer have similar genetic origins

Mayo Clinic, Cancer Genetics form joint venture to improve cancer care

UC Irvine chemists create new method to identify clinically usable markers for prostate cancer in urine

A1-PI treatment slows progression of emphysema in patients with AATD

Systemic inflammation is linked with depression in COPD patients, say researchers

Multiple studies examine ideal biomarkers for Huntington's disease

Stronger epigenetic changes in estrogen responsive genes linked to postpartum depression

Researchers identify novel biomarkers for predicting mortality in ICU patients

Promising method to distinguish pancreatic cancer from chronic pancreatitis

Alnylam reports pre-clinical data from ALN-AS1 program for treatment of AIP

NW Bio starts Phase III clinical trial with DCVax-L for brain cancer at King's College Hospital in UK

Previstage GCC Colorectal Cancer Staging Test study to be presented at 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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