Clinical Science to publish manuscript on HTX005 ovarian cancer biomarker
10 February 2010, Melbourne: HealthLinx Limited (ASX:HTX) has been notified by the journal Clinical Science that a manuscript submitted for review by HealthLinx scientists and collaborators at the University of Liverpool has been accepted for publication. The manuscript describes the identification of HTX005 (AGR2) as a novel biomarker released into the bloodstream of ovarian cancer patients.
The performance of the novel biomarker AGR2 will be further tested in an up-coming multi-centre, multi-national biomarker study planned by HealthLinx. Based on preliminary data it is expected that this biomarker will increase the performance of OvPlex™ to greater than 97 per cent.
Clinical Science is a highly regarded peer-reviewed international bio-medical journal that publishes medical research with a focus on applying molecular disease mechanisms in clinical practice. The journal is published monthly in print on behalf of the Biochemical Society from editorial offices in London and La Jolla USA.
Clinical Science will publish the paper entitled “Increased plasma concentrations of anterior gradient 2 protein are positively associated with ovarian cancer” in the forthcoming months, however, a pre-print version is currently available on the Clinical Science web site.
Over the past twelve months the company has been informing the market of pending developments relating to its lead biomarker HTX005. HealthLinx can now divulge the identity of this biomarker as AGR2. This is the first demonstration that the AGR2 protein is released into the bloodstream of ovarian cancer patients and the published study illustrates its potential role in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
“This is a coup for the company,” says managing director Nick Gatsios. “HealthLinx has a patent pending for what we view as a unique antibody that allows us to detect the protein in human blood. We have been working with this biomarker for almost two years and have been holding our cards very close to our chest until we were confident about its importance in our programs.”
“When we model AGR2 with some of our existing biomarkers in the OvPlex™ panel we achieve greater than 97 per cent diagnostic efficiency. We are confident that the second larger biomarker study commencing in the very near future will further establish the potential of this biomarker and its relevance to producing the next generation multi-marker panel with significantly improved performance.”
ABSTRACT Ovarian cancer is often asymptomatic and is diagnosed at an advanced stage with poor survival rates, thus, there is an urgent need to develop biomarkers for earlier detection of ovarian cancer. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that the previously-reported metastasis-inducing protein, anterior gradient protein 2 (AGR2), can be detected in the blood of ovarian cancer patients. Using a newly developed ELISA test, we show significantly increased concentrations of AGR2 protein in plasma from cancer patients relative to normal controls. Plasma AGR2 concentrations were highest in stage II and stage III ovarian cancer patients and were similarly elevated in patients with both serous and non-serous tumours. The identification of elevated plasma concentrations of AGR2 may provide a useful biomarker to aid in the discrimination of normal and ovarian cancer patients particularly when used in combination with CA125.
Enquiries
Nick Gatsios (HealthLinx Limited) +61 3 9208 4200
Rudi Michelson (Monsoon Communications) +61 3 9620 3333
About HealthLinx Limited (ASX:HTX)
HealthLinx uses biomarkers to develop best practice diagnostics that detect and monitor diseases. First commercial targets are for diseases with high fatality: · Ovarian cancer diagnostic (OvPlex) targeting US$270m pa market · Prostate cancer targeting US$350m pa market
A biomarker is a specific biochemical in the body that measures disease or the effects of treatment.
Commercial sales of the OvPlex™ test have begun in Australia and are soon to commence in the UK. HealthLinx is developing new and increasingly accurate next generation diagnostics and will seek license partners to roll out worldwide sales.
www.healthlinx.com.au
Monsoon Communications Level 1 350 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Ph: 03 9620 3333 www.monsoon.com.au
Source: Pharmalive
