Insight Genetics has teamed with the cancer center at Vanderbilt University to produce and distribute a new molecular test that will drill down into the genetic makeup of a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer. The test, which is being developed in conjunction with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC), will be used to diagnose what is known as triple-negative breast cancer. This specific form of the disease is negative for having an estrogen receptor, a progesterone receptor, or the HER2 gene. Such a form of the cancer is diagnosed about 230,000 times each year in the United States. Triple-negative breast cancer can be difficult to treat because there are few targeted treatment options available and that form of cancer often recurs. The survival rate for the triple-negative form of cancer is about 30 percent worse than the overall average for the disease. Insight Genetics contacted VICC after its researchers had used an algorithm on gene expression data on hundreds of triple-negative breast cancer cases to detect as many as six genetic subtypes of the disease. The research “shows tremendous promise for identifying unique treatment options for each molecular subtype of triple-negative breast cancer,” said Insight Genetics Chief Executive Officer Eric Dahlhauser. […]
Insight Genetics has teamed with the cancer center at Vanderbilt University to produce and distribute a new molecular test that will drill down into the genetic makeup of a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer.
The test, which is being developed in conjunction with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC), will be used to diagnose what is known as triple-negative breast cancer. This specific form of the disease is negative for having an estrogen receptor, a progesterone receptor, or the HER2 gene.
Such a form of the cancer is diagnosed about 230,000 times each year in the United States. Triple-negative breast cancer can be difficult to treat because there are few targeted treatment options available and that form of cancer often recurs. The survival rate for the triple-negative form of cancer is about 30 percent worse than the overall average for the disease.
Insight Genetics contacted VICC after its researchers had used an algorithm on gene expression data on hundreds of triple-negative breast cancer cases to detect as many as six genetic subtypes of the disease.
The research “shows tremendous promise for identifying unique treatment options for each molecular subtype of triple-negative breast cancer,” said Insight Genetics Chief Executive Officer Eric Dahlhauser.
VICC and Insight will work on developing tests that target the underlying biomarkers. The algorithm will be refined and moved onto a next-generation sequencing platform, an Insight spokesperson said. It is expected that research of the specific subtypes will lead to guided treatments, Insight officials said.
Insight has obtained worldwide rights to the method Vanderbilt has developed to detect the biomarkers and plans to distribute any assays that are developed from the collaboration. A spokesperson was unable to say when such tests would be available.
Takeaway: Insight Genetics will attempt to develop highly specific esoteric tests to better differentiate among forms of breast cancer.
