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Popular Articles

How Weight Gain And Obesity In Men Reduce PSA Velocity And May Interfere With Prostate Cancer Detection
EHE International recently announced the findings of a study indicating that elevated PSA levels, often associated with prostate cancer, are potentially harder to detect in men who are obese or experiencing weight gain. Prostate specific antigens (PSAs) are proteins produced by the cells of the prostate gland and because elevated levels may be indicative of prostate cancer, PSAs are regularly measured in annual physicals. PSA velocity is a measure of how fast PSA levels are changing in a man through time, and a high PSA velocity is an important indicator of prostate cancer risk. The study describes how obesity and increases in Body Mass Index (BMI) make PSA velocity scores appear lower than they really are, thereby potentially obscuring clinically relevant changes in circulating PSA.

Juggling Cells Using High-Precision Laser Tweezers
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have developed a new method to study single cells while exposing them to controlled environmental changes. The unique method, where a set of laser tweezers move the cell around in a microscopic channel system, allows the researchers to study how single cells react to stress induced by a constantly changing environment.
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DrugScope Welcomes National Treatment Agency Announcment Of Increased Funding For Drug Treatment
DrugScope has welcomed the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse"s announcement of an extra ÷£11.8m government investment in drug treatment.
Sexual Health

Quintiles Advances Cancer Treatment Through New Genetic Tests

Targeted Molecular Diagnostics (TMD), a Quintiles Central Laboratory, announced the availability of two new laboratory tests used to develop more effective cancer treatments. These new tests are now being used in the clinical development of targeted therapies more likely to succeed in treating patients with cancer related to gene mutations. The lab tests, known as mutation assays, identify the genomic changes that occur in each patient"s cancer and help researchers find the optimum individual treatment plan. This type of personalized medicine supports therapies that are safer, more effective and efficient, and minimize unnecessary or potentially harmful treatments. "The availability of these new assays is evidence of TMD"s dedication to advancing personalized medicine and targeted therapies," said TMD founder Dr. Sarah Bacus, Senior Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer of Translational Medicine for Quintiles, which acquired TMD in November 2008. "TMD is one of the leading central laboratories to offer these assays for clinical development of oncology therapies." TMD"s new mutation assays, known as BRAF and PI3KCA, identify solid tumor mutations. Studies have shown a correlation between changes to BRAF and PI3KCA genes and individual responses to certain cancer treatments. In many cancers, the BRAF gene may be mutated, which can increase the growth and spread of cancer cells. TMD"s BRAF assay detects the most commonly occurring mutation in this gene. Similarly, PI3KCA gene mutations have been found in various solid tumors, such as breast, colon, lung, ovarian, liver and stomach cancer. TMD"s PI3KCA assay detects the four most common mutations in this gene. As assays are increasingly used to help in cancer treatment, TMD already offers a test for colorectal cancer related to KRAS gene mutation. Recently, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommended that all patients with metastatic colorectal cancer be tested for mutations to the KRAS gene. "TMD was among the first laboratories to offer the KRAS test for the clinical development of treatments," said Christopher Ung, Vice President Strategic Business and Operations for Quintiles" TMD lab. "Using mutation assays is likely to become the standard of care in the future. Today, we are among the first to offer BRAF and PI3KCA assays, as these solid tumor mutations are on the leading edge of cancer research and personalized treatment options." About TMD TMD, a Quintiles Central Laboratory, is dedicated to improving the survival and quality of lives of cancer patients by using biomarker technologies to support the development of targeted therapies. Located in Westmont, Illinois, near Chicago, TMD supports the development of numerous targeted therapies in oncology such as EGFR, HER2, SRC, MEK, PI3K, HDAC and VEGF inhibitors. For more information, please visit http://www.tmdlab.com. Quintiles Transnational Corp.


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