Molecular Oncology

Once cancer is suspected, a clinical specimen or biopsy sample is taken for pathology assessment. Prognostic tests under development will be focused on solid tumor biopsies and cell cytology samples. Our tests will be used to measure the expression of cancer-specific proteins that can be detected in the tumor cells of interest. The expression pattern of cancer-specific proteins may be used to provide additional information (as defined by 5-year disease free survival status). Oncologists could use such predictive prognostic information in patient treatment selections and decisions.

Cervical Staging Program

The focus of the cervical oncology program is to develop and commercialize highly sensitive and specific novel gene targets for the direct detection of pre-invasive high-grade disease (CIN2/3 and CIS) and invasive cervical cancer independent of age and HPV infection status. The expression pattern of these proteins may be used to provide additional information related to cervical cancer disease progression.

Breast Cancer Prognostic Program

We are developing reagents for a slide-based test to quantify protein expression for multiple cancers for the prognosis of breast cancer. This test will be formatted as a slide-based immunohistochemistry test that will utilize BD Diagnostics - TriPath's proprietary
BD SlideWizard™ system to quantify protein expression for multiple cancer markers. A high percentage of early stage breast cancer patients are treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, and a more accurate prediction of direct tumor behavior may help to guide oncologists in their choice of therapies to administer.