Genostics
There is mounting interest in biomarkers that may predict tumour biology and simultaneously serve as therapeutic targets.
A simple blood test allows the investigation of those markers on the tumour cell genes. Optimised reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR), tissue microarray analysis or immunohistochemistry allow us to query various pathways, molecular signals and proteins in order to predict tumour behavior.
Investigators are able to determine differential levels of expression of various markers in normal cells compared with indolent and aggressive tumours.
With such technology, a wide array of bio-markers has been presented in the literature with encouraging data.
This blood test is available through Genostics. A world class Molecular Oncology Lab (Lab Pachmann, Germany) using the MAINTRAC System is being used to investigate and report those results.
This enables us to
Determine the presence of “circulating tumour cells” in the blood stream
Examine the genetic behaviour of those tumour cells
Investigate for chemotherapy sensitivity. All chemotherapy agents are being tested to see which one works most effectively in “killing off” those tumour cells. This has enormous implication when one needs to choose chemotherapy by the oncologist.
Investigate for natural product sensitivity.
Available Genostics tests:
Escapee cancer cells in the blood, or 'CTCs' as they are known, can be found by a simple blood test. A CTC Count test finds existing escapee cancer cells (CTCs) in a blood sample and counts them. Monitoring changes in cancer activity over time is made easy with this test... To learn more, please visit our patient or practitioner information page.
Some CTCs can hide in the blood stream for months or years before activating and forming a second tumour. Some CTCs may even resist treatment. This test analyses how a person's CTCs respond when exposed to a recommended chemotherapy regimen or botanical treatment. To learn more, please visit our patient or practitioner information page.
Biomarker analysis can be used to identify receptors that are targets for treatment, to assess the potential for cancer spread or to assist in diagnosis. The identification of certain receptors on a person's CTCs may help practitioners design personalised treatment strategies... To learn more, please visit our patient or practitioner information page.
Tumour Sphere Units tests to see if a person's CTCs can multiply to form microscopic clusters, called Tumour Sphere Units, in the laboratory. CTCs that can form clusters have stem-cell qualities, rendering them more resistant to treatment and capable of forming a second tumour, called a metastasis. To learn more, please visit our patient or practitioner information page
exacta® is a comprehensive in depth tumour gene expression analysis performed by Datar Cancer Genetics.
Datar Cancer Genetics is a World-leading molecular oncology facility with a fully equipped laboratory, integrated process platforms, in-house bioinformatics team, and a huge genetic data base for precise and updated reporting.
exacta® helps unravel the driver mutations and pathways that are propelling a particular person’s cancer through multi-analyte and multi-coordinate analysis over 20.805 genes in the cancer genome. This analysis helps identify targeted drugs that would be most effective for a particular cancer. exacta®, thus enables a highly sophisticated treatment strategy beyond conventional perspective, even for difficult cancers.
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