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- Posted Friday March 5, 2010
Life Technologies, TGen and US Oncology Partner on Groundbreaking Breast Cancer Sequencing Research
First-of-its-kind project will sequence difficult breast cancers
to provide insight into treatment strategies
PHOENIX, Ariz. - March 5, 2010 - Life Technologies Corporation
(NASDAQ: LIFE) today announced that it is collaborating with the
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and US Oncology to
sequence the genomes of 14 patients afflicted with triple negative
breast cancer whose tumors have progressed despite multiple other
therapies.
The goal of this first-of-its-kind research collaboration is to
demonstrate whether genomic sequencing of cancer tissue can provide
clues for treatment strategies for these individuals.
While genomic sequencing has made great strides in helping
researchers understand human disease, its clinical utility is not
fully known. This research study brings together the accuracy of
the Applied Biosystems SOLiD™ System, with US Oncology's expertise
in cancer trials and TGen's Cancer Genome and Oncology programs, to
provide additional information for oncologists and their patients.
Triple negative tumors, which make up nearly 20 percent of breast
cancers, do not respond to treatment with common targeted breast
cancer therapies such as Herceptin.
"This study could provide insight into how cancers can be
potentially treated in the future," said Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D.,
Physician-in-Chief, Senior Investigator for TGen and Chief
Scientific Officer for US Oncology & Scottsdale Healthcare's
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center. "Current clinical trials are aimed
at showing how one new drug can be safe and effective across
hundreds of people. This study flips that concept by using
sequencing data from one individual to evaluate which anti-cancer
drugs could be most effective based on normal and tumor genetic
makeup. This is truly the definition of genomic medicine."
Cancer is caused by mutations across the genome that affect genes
coding for proteins involved in cellular processes. Understanding
these mutations and their impact on biological pathways and
processes becomes critical in the selection of treatment when
cancers are not responsive to conventional anti-cancer
therapies.
In this collaboration, US Oncology will help enroll patients in the
study to have both tumor and healthy tissue sequenced using the
SOLiD system to identify mutations, which will be validated by
CLIA-certified Caris Life Sciences. Scientists and oncologists will
then leverage this information to more intelligently evaluate
potential therapies that target the affected pathways responsible
for the cancer.
"Metastatic triple negative breast cancer is an aggressive cancer
for which few effective therapies exist," says Joyce O'Shaughnessy,
M.D., Co-Chair of the US Oncology Breast Cancer Research Committee,
Associate Director for US Oncology clinical research and
Co-Director of the Breast Cancer Research Program at Baylor-Charles
A. Sammons Cancer Center and Texas Oncology, a US Oncology
affiliate in Dallas, Texas. "US Oncology has conducted a number of
clinical trials aimed at advancing the biologic understanding and
therapeutic efficacy for these patients, and we are very excited to
have the opportunity to fully sequence patients' triple negative
breast cancers towards these ends."
Additionally, scientists from TGen and Life Technologies will
collaborate in the development of novel computational and
informatics software paving the way for the use of whole genomic
sequencing data for querying, identifying and interpreting
mutations to provide for more effective therapeutic decisions.
These capabilities will potentially have a significant impact on
the treatment of cancer and other complex diseases for which
numerous targeted therapeutic choices are available.
"Life Technologies' highly accurate SOLiD system is the appropriate
tool to carry out this type of study," said Mark Stevenson,
President and Chief Operating Officer for Life Technologies. "With
an accuracy greater than 99.94 percent, we will be confident that
any differences between the tumor DNA and DNA from healthy tissue
will be the result of mutations as opposed to errors introduced in
the sequencing itself. Life Technologies is proud to be part of
such groundbreaking research, which is paving the way for a new
paradigm in cancer treatment."
The SOLiD System is used globally in experiments to better
understand the genetic nature of diseases such as cancer, diabetes,
and neurological disorders. Its throughput, accuracy, speed and
flexibility allow researchers to generate the high quality data
needed for the advancement of molecular medicine.
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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.
About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at
TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer,
neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of
translational research where investigators are able to unravel the
genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with
collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen
believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency
and effectiveness of the translational process. For more
information, visit: www.tgen.org.
About US Oncology
US Oncology, Inc., is the leading oncology services company uniting
the nation's largest cancer treatment and research network to
expand patient access to high-quality, cost-effective cancer care
and advance the science of cancer care. Headquartered in The
Woodlands, Texas, US Oncology enhances patient access to advanced
cancer care by providing a broad range of solutions to community
oncologists, patients, payers, and the medical industry across all
phases of the cancer care research and delivery system. US Oncology
deploys innovation, technology, research and the use of
evidence-based medicine and shared best practices to improve
patient outcomes and offer a better patient experience. For more
information, visit www.usoncology.com.
US Oncology conducts clinical research through US Oncology
Research, Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary, and enables the
nation's largest community-based research network with experienced
investigators and dedicated research nurses specializing in Phase
I-IV oncology clinical trials in the United States. US Oncology
Research serves more than 80 sites in 200 locations managing more
than 90 open trials at any given time. The research network has
accrued more than 38,500 patients through more than 680 trials
since its inception and has contributed to the development of 39
cancer therapies approved by the FDA.
Life Technologies Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements about Life
Technologies anticipated results that involve risks and
uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press
release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry
trends and Life Technologies' plans, objectives, expectations and
strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that
are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results or events to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are
not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements.
When used, the words "believe," "plan," "intend," "anticipate,"
"target," "estimate," "expect" and the like, and/or future tense or
conditional constructions ("will," "may," "could," "should," etc.),
or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking
statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are
detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation
to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect
subsequent events or circumstances.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Life Technologies Contact
Tim Ingersoll
760-918-3883
[email protected]
TGen Contact
Steve Yozwiak
602-343-8704
[email protected]
US Oncology
Jennifer Horspool
281-863-6739
[email protected]
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