Brain Metastases Is Source for Diagnostic Test Validation

To identify the site where the metastasis originated by analyzing the unique microRNA signature of each metastasis will be analyzed and compared to the signature of known primary sites.

Rosetta Genomics (North Brunswick, NJ, USA) has signed an agreement with the Henry Ford Hospital (Detroit, MI, USA), one of the world's leading research centers for brain cancer, to provide the company with samples of metastases found in brain tissue. The samples will then be analyzed using Rosetta Genomics' miRdicatorb technology to determine the origin of the metastasis.

This is a significant step towards initiating the clinical validation for our cancer of unknown primary diagnostic test, said Amir Avniel, president and CEO of Rosetta Genomics. The samples we will receive from the Henry Ford Hospital will help validate our lead diagnostic program and advance it forward towards launching the first microRNA-based diagnostic test.

Our CUP [cancer of unknown origin] diagnostic program has been showing rapid progress over the past few months, noted Dalia Cohen, Rosetta Genomics' Global Head of R&D. We are continually expanding the test, and believe we have reached a point where we can confidently begin running blind samples of metastases on our miRdicator platform to identify their origin.

In 3-5% of new cancer cases, the site of origin of a tumor cannot be readily identified, or a diagnosis of origin is equivocal. This disease manifestation is known as a cancer of unknown primary (CUP). These tumors represent a clinically diverse group, typically presenting with moderately to poorly differentiated tumors, often adenocarcinoma, involving multiple organs including liver, bone, brain, lung, lymph nodes, and pleura. Patients with CUP represent a disproportionate fraction of cancer deaths due to their poor median survival, often measured in months. In many cases, patients receive a series of sequential treatments before a response, if any, is obtained. A large proportion of cases remain undiagnosed, with the result that therapy cannot be matched to their specific disease.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered, naturally occurring form of RNA interference RNAi. These small RNAs act as protein regulators and have the potential to form the basis for a new class of diagnostics and therapeutics. Since many diseases are caused by the abnormal activity of proteins, the ability to selectively regulate protein activity through microRNAs could provide the means to treat a wide range of human diseases. In addition, microRNAs have been shown to have different expression levels in certain diseased versus normal tissues. As a result, these differences potentially provide for a novel diagnostic strategy for many diseases. MicroRNAs are thought to play a key role in the differentiation of cells into specific cell types performing various functions in the body.


Related Links:
Rosetta Genomics
Henry Ford Hospital