Translational Oncology Laboratory

CASES

A representative example of our R&D program is the discovery of a test that allows the determination of EGFR mutations in serum/plasma of non-small cell lung cancer patients. This minimally invasive technique has a significant potential to identify patients sensitive to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EU patent #2046985; Singapore patent # 149469; WO2008/009740).

The validity of this model in the clinical setting is demonstrated by the fact that at least one third of advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients will have insufficient tumor tissue available for purposes of EGFR mutation analysis.

Another significant example of our unique R&D approach is a model that demonstrates the impact of BRCA1 expression levels on the sensitivity pattern of DNA anti-tubuline interacting agents.