New technology to improve early detection and prognosis of cancer

Gentel Biosciences, a leader in proteomics tools, and Van Andel Research Institute (VARI), a biomedical research institute, jointly announce today the granting of U.S. Patent 7,838,634 for a new method to profile changes in the glycosylation of proteins captured on the surface of an antibody array slide. Gentel first obtained an exclusive right to commercialize the technology in 2006.

According to Brian H. Haab, Ph.D., head of VARI's Laboratory of Cancer Immunodiagnostics and inventor of the technology, "A number of new biomarkers using glycosylated variants of proteins have recently received or are proceeding toward FDA clearance. The ability to efficiently screen glycosylated variants of many proteins for use as biomarkers offers an unprecedented opportunity for discoveries of new glycan-based biomarkers."

Glycosylation is the addition of linear or branched sugar molecules to proteins. Many studies have shown that glycosylated variants of proteins can make better markers for early detection and for prognosis in cancers like hepatocellular carcinoma when compared to measuring the protein alone.

"There is a lack of tools to screen proteins for changes in glycosylation that might be associated with disease. Dr. Haab's approach is a better method to identify new diagnostic biomarkers based on glycosylated variants of proteins," added Bryce P. Nelson, Ph.D., Vice President of Technology and Business Development at Gentel Biosciences.

A patent for the technology is also pending in the European Union.

The new glycan detection technology will soon be combined with the more than fifty SilverQuant® Antibody Array kits available from Gentel. These antibody array kits target nearly 500 proteins and provide a complete proteomics workflow from screening to quantification. SilverQuant kits are configured for use with the Gentel Proteomics Multi-System™ and Gentel's AthenaQuant® analysis software for an easy-to-use and cost-effective alternative with better sensitivity than fluorescence-based detection. SilverQuant chromogenic technology allows for the detection of any biotinylated molecule, generating array spots that are visible to the naked eye that can be detected with the Gentel Proteomics Multi-System. Simple protocols empower both experts and novices to obtain meaningful protein multiplexing data in a single day.

Provided by Van Andel Research Institute