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- Posted Monday April 2, 2012
TGen's Dr. John Carpten presents Triple-Negative Breast Cancer study supported by Life Technologies
Dr. Carpten co-chairs panel discussion at AACR Annual Meeting
2012
CHICAGO - April 2, 2012 - Because cases of Triple-Negative Breast
Cancer (TNBC) are so genetically different, whole-genome sequencing
is needed to detect the subtle molecular differences that might
point to specific treatments for individual patients.
Dr. John Carpten, Ph.D., head of the Integrated Cancer Genomics
Division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen),
will deliver that message along with other preliminary findings
about whole-genome sequencing of TNBC at the American Association
for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2012, March 31-April 4,
in Chicago.
"Every TNBC tumor we interrogate is genomically unique," said Dr.
Carpten, who is part of an unprecedented and ongoing clinical trial
involving the whole-genome sequencing of 14 TNBC tumors.
Whole-Genome Sequencing, spells out all of the nearly 3 billion DNA
molecules found in human cells, allowing unprecedented scrutiny of
patients' genetic codes.
Dr. Carpten will co-chair an AACR panel, Concepts and Challenges
in Bringing Next-Generation Sequencing to the Clinic. Dr. Stephen
B. Gruber, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., and the H. Marvin Pollard Professor
of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan will co-chair.
Other panelists include Giselle L. Sholler of the Van Andel
Research Institute and Victor E. Velculescu of the Johns Hopkins
Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. The panel is set for 10:30 a.m.
EDT April 2 at Chicago's McCormick Place convention center.
TNBC is unlike the nearly 80-90 percent of other breast cancers,
which are driven by the hormones estrogen (1), progesterone (2), or
too many receptors of the HER2 gene (3). Testing negative for all
three means the cancer is "triple-negative."
Estrogen- and progesterone-driven breast cancers can be treated
with hormonal therapy, while the drug Herceptin (trastuzumab)
targets HER2 receptors.
But there have been no sure-shot treatments developed for TNBC,
mainly because these cancers display a startling lack of
uniformity, or heterogeneity, in their molecular make up.
"Whole-genome sequencing is enabling us to zero in on the specific
challenges presented with each individual TNBC tumor, advancing a
'personalized medicine' approach that helps guide the treatment of
each patient," said Dr. Carpten.
Based on mutations uncovered by sequencing, physicians recommend
that their patients enter treatment protocols for either existing
drugs or for new agents being evaluated in pharma-sponsored
clinical trials.
Investigators are sequencing germline and tumor DNA to identify
genomic alterations including point mutations, insertions/deletions
and structural events such as translocations. RNA sequencing also
is performed on the tumors, along with tissue from age- and
ethnicity-matched normal breast controls, to obtain insights on
gene expression differences.
This clinical study is being conducted in collaboration with US
Oncology Research, with support from Life Technologies
Corporation.
"This is among the largest studies of a single tumor type in which
whole genome sequencing is being used to identify potential options
for targeted treatment," said Ronnie Andrews, president of medical
sciences at Life Technologies Corporation. "We are very pleased to
help support this study, which is providing key insights into how
sequencing can best be used in the clinic."
The theme of the 2012 AACR meeting is "Accelerating Science:
Concept to Clinic," reflecting the strides and breakthroughs being
made by cancer researchers and the impact they are making on global
health. The conference will emphasize the synergy between basic,
clinical and translational research that lead to effective cancer
therapies and prevention strategies.
About Life Technologies (www.lifetechnologies.com)
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global
biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human
condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers
to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and
developments that make life even better. Life Technologies
customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to
advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular
diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st
century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of $3.3 billion in
2009, employs approximately 9,000 people, has a presence in
approximately 160 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing
intellectual property estate of approximately 3,900 patents and
exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the
combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc.,
and manufactures both in-vitro diagnostic products and research use
only-labeled products. For more information on how we are making a
difference, please visit our website:
http://www.lifetechnologies.com.