Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Uses Affymetrix Technology to Reveal Changes in 800 Cancer Cell Lines
September 25 2008 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Affymetrix Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFX) announced today that the Wellcome
Trust Sanger Institute has developed a catalog of structural
genomic changes in almost 800 cancer cell lines using the company�s
Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0. Cancer cell lines are invaluable
reagents in analyzing the molecular biology of the disease as well
as important tools in developing new healing methods. The core set
of cancer cell lines developed by the Cancer Genome Project
includes samples from most types of human cancer. Combined with
more than 400 normal control samples, nearly 1,250 were analyzed
using Affymetrix technology. The SNP Array 6.0 features more than
1.8 million markers for genetic variation, including more than
906,600 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and more than
946,000 probes for the detection of copy number variation. The team
from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute was able to map out the
genomic regions of each sample, focusing on the alterations that
occurred during the genesis of the cancer. These structural
alterations can inactivate genes, increase gene activity or, more
rarely, lead to gene products possessing new properties.
"Previously, using an earlier version of the current array, we
developed maps of structural variation at lower resolution," said
Dr Graham Bignell, project leader at the Wellcome Trust Sanger
Institute. "The new dataset provides a much more refined view of
the changes that have occurred in these samples, as it represents a
180-fold increase in resolution. When viewed across nearly 800
samples, these maps give a remarkable insight into the ravages of
the genome induced during cancer development." As part of the
ongoing study within this series of cancer cell lines, mutations in
more than 60 known cancer genes are being characterized and all
data is being made publicly available on the Wellcome Trust Sanger
Institute�s COSMIC website. �With these discoveries, the Wellcome
Trust Sanger Institute enhances its reputation at the forefront of
understanding the genomic changes that occur in cells as they
progress towards cancer,� said Kevin King, president of Affymetrix.
�The ability of the SNP Array 6.0 to detect copy number changes is
advancing our understanding of the disease and ultimately enabling
scientists to make clearer diagnoses and treatment choices.� About
Affymetrix Affymetrix GeneChip� microarray technology is the
industry-standard tool for analyzing complex genetic information.
After inventing microarray technology in the late 1980s, Affymetrix
scientists have been dedicated to developing innovative products
that provide researchers with a more complete view of the genome.
These products continue to accelerate genetic research and enable
scientists to develop diagnostics and tailor treatments for
individual patients by identifying and measuring the genetic
information associated with complex diseases. Today, Affymetrix
technology is used by the world�s top pharmaceutical, diagnostic
and biotechnology companies, as well as leading academic,
government and not-for-profit research institutes. More than 1,700
systems have been shipped around the world and more than 13,000
peer-reviewed papers have been published using the technology.
Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., and has
manufacturing facilities in Sacramento, Calif., Cleveland, Ohio,
and Singapore. The company has about 1,100 employees worldwide and
maintains sales and distribution operations across Europe and Asia.
For more information about Affymetrix, please visit the company�s
website at www.affymetrix.com. Forward-looking Statements All
statements in this press release that are not historical are
�forward-looking statements� within the meaning of Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act as amended, including statements
regarding Affymetrix� �expectations,� �beliefs,� �hopes,�
�intentions,� �strategies� or the like. Such statements are subject
to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially for Affymetrix from those projected, including,
but not limited to: risks and uncertainties relating to commercial
success of the agreement with the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
discussed in this press release; risks of the company�s ability to
achieve and sustain higher levels of revenue, higher gross margins
and reduced operating expenses; uncertainties related to
technological approaches, manufacturing and product development;
personnel retention; uncertainties related to cost and pricing of
Affymetrix products; dependence on collaborative partners;
uncertainties related to sole-source suppliers; risks associated
with past and future acquisitions; uncertainties relating to FDA
and other regulatory approvals; competition; risks relating to
intellectual property of others and the uncertainties of patent
protection and litigation. These and other risk factors are
discussed in Affymetrix� Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2007, and other SEC reports, including its Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q for subsequent quarterly periods. Affymetrix expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any
updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained
herein to reflect any change in Affymetrix� expectations with
regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances
on which any such statements are based. NOTE: Affymetrix�, the
Affymetrix logo and GeneChip� are registered trademarks owned or
used by Affymetrix Inc.
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