Pancreatic cancer is the most deadly of all cancers. Early detection and new drug therapy is the key to aggressively destroy cancer cells in this vital organ in out bodies.
In the medical testing community there is no test that can detect early stages of pancreatic cancer and no cancer drug therapy that can completely destroy the cancer cells in the pancreas.
The Tuveson lab has developed mouse models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) to discover biomarkers of early disease and to identify the pathways and druggable targets involved in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of PDA. Efforts are also underway to come up with efficacious therapeutic strategies.
“We have discovered that PDAC tumors contain a deficient and compressed vasculature that limits therapeutic delivery and therefore efficacy,” notes Dr. Tuveson. “Using these models we have uncovered several methods to correct or target these vascular deficits and promote response, and this information has led to the initiation of several clinical trials.
“At CSHL we will search for new vulnerabilities in PDAC neoplastic and microenvironmental cells, and evaluate these candidates in a futuristic 'Mouse Hospital' we are creating on campus.”
Biomarkers are used in helping oncologists to diagnose several types of cancer. They are also used to monitor chemotherapy and radiation treatment in order for the doctor to know if they are killing the cancer cells. New biomarkers have been developed to provide more options in helping the different areas of oncology to treat patients.
Lee Biosolutions Inc. has expanded its line of biomarkers to include products used to track epithelial ovarian cancer, breast cancer and liver cancer.
Based in Brentwood, Lee Biosolutions collects biological materials — human saliva, semen, urine and vaginal secretions, among others — and produces finished proteins, enzymes, biologicals, immuno-reagents and antibodies for life science research and clinical diagnostic testing. The company’s core business is diagnostic and Lee Biosolutions sells proteins and enzymes to research labs like the Cleveland Clinic and pharmaceutical companies such as Abbott Laboratories.
Lee Biosolutions has developed a proprietary process to purify and test for novel cancer biomarkers. In addition to the new biomarkers, the company is expanding its production of the other biomarkers in its lineup.
"We continue to increase supply of CA 19-9 which often is used with patients with pancreatic cancer, CEA tumor marker that helps predict the outlook in patients with colorectal cancer and CA 72-4 which is now used in ovarian, pancreatic cancer and cancers starting in the digestive tract," said Burton Lee, president of the company. "Current research has identified CYFRA 21-1 used as a marker for non-small cell lung cancer and Lee Biosolutions has increased supply of Beta 2 Microglobuilnwhich is used as a marker for multiple myelomas and chronic lymphocytic leukemia."
The products are raw finished proteins that are used in formulations in invitro diagnostic products and research.
Lee Biosolutions had revenue of $6 million last year.
Great new article about new biomarker testing at the end of this year concerning ovarian cancer. Every woman needs to read this to educate yourself and share with others about what is involved with this life threatening cancer.
Autotelic Lab, Fountain Valley, a developer of quantitative rapid tests, announced today that it will be presenting a poster “The Hormones BNP and FSH
in Ovarian Cancer: Potential as Diagnostic Biomarkers” at ENDO 2012.
Ovarian cancer accounts for approximately 3 percent of all cancers in
women and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women
in the United States. Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality of all
cancers of the female reproductive system. This reflects, in part, a
lack of early symptoms and effective ovarian cancer
screening tests. Thus, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced
stage, after the cancer has spread beyond the ovary. Cancer Antigen
125 (CA125, aka Mucin16) is overproduced by ovarian cancer cells;
however, it cannot be used as a diagnostic biomarker for ovarian cancer
as it can be absent when disease is present, or levels can be high when
no disease or no malignant disease exists. Serial changes in CA125
levels, if elevated, however, can be useful in assessment of disease
status and progression. Ovarian epithelial cancer is more common in
individuals with elevated Gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH)
including Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone
(LH) such as postmenopausal women or women who have received treatment
to induce ovulation. Conversely, reduced risk of ovarian cancer is
associated with a history of multiple pregnancies, breastfeeding, oral
contraceptive use, and estrogen replacement therapy, all of which are
related to lower levels of and reduced exposure to FSH and LH. FSH
regulates gene expression in ovarian tumors and causes
neovascularization of ovarian cancers by increasing Vascular Endothelial
Growth Factor (VEGF) expression through upregulation of survivin. We
therefore examined FSH levels in relation to CA125 as potential
diagnostic marker for ovarian cancer using a quantitative point-of-care
device for FSH that was recently developed for therapeutic drug
monitoring. The surprising potential of FSH and/or Brain Natriuretic
Peptide (BNP) as diagnostic biomarkers for ovarian cancer will be
presented.
These tests are performed on serum from a blood draw. It usually take a few days to get the results,but are very informative for the oncologist as far as plan of treatment.
An Inspiring Story of a woman (physician) Diagnosed With Ovarian
