Johns Hopkins Researchers Use ProteinChip(R) Technology to Discover Novel Biomarkers for the Potential Diagnosis of Pancreatic C
February 06 2004 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Johns Hopkins Researchers Use ProteinChip(R) Technology to Discover
Novel Biomarkers for the Potential Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer
Data Presented in the Journal of Clinical Cancer Research FREMONT,
Calif., Feb. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ciphergen Diagnostics, a
division of Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. announced today that a
research team led by Drs. Michael Goggins and Daniel W. Chan at The
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine used the company's
ProteinChip(R) technology to discover panels of novel serum
biomarkers that are able to differentiate patients with pancreatic
cancer from patients with other pancreatic diseases and from
healthy individuals. The study was published today in the Journal
of Clinical Cancer Research. "Ciphergen's clinical diagnostics
program, based on our core SELDI ProteinChip technology, is
enabling researchers to rapidly advance the prospect of highly
sensitive, specific and non-invasive tests for numerous cancers as
well as several other diseases," said Gail Page, President of
Ciphergen Diagnostics. "We believe that novel biomarkers can enable
early detection of pancreatic cancer and this program is one we
will be pursuing, in partnership with our collaborators at The
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, as part of our
emerging diagnostic pipeline." Using SELDI ProteinChip technology
and bioinformatics tools, Dr. Goggins and colleagues analyzed serum
samples from 60 patients with pancreatic cancer, 60 age- and
sex-matched patients with non-malignant pancreatic diseases and 60
age- and sex-matched healthy patients in the controls group.
Analysis of the data revealed two protein biomarkers that could
discriminate pancreatic cancer patients from healthy controls with
specificity (true negatives) of 97% and sensitivity (true
positives) of 78%. The addition of CA19-9 to the two-marker panel
further improved its overall performance. Because the study
analyzed patients with surgically resectable cancer, it is possible
that this marker panel will be diagnostically useful even for
patients with small cancers. Ciphergen's Diagnostics Division and
the Johns Hopkins research team are currently recruiting additional
patients in order to perform follow-on validation studies.
Pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death and
has the poorest survival rate for any solid cancer. The American
Cancer Society projects that, in 2004, about 31,860 people in the
U.S. will be found to have pancreatic cancer and about 31,270 will
die of the disease. The disease is often very advanced by the time
symptoms occur and diagnosis is established, as a result of which
the five year survival rate of pancreatic cancer patients is less
than 5%. If detected early and treated by surgery, 5-year survival
rates improve to approximately 15-40%. Thus, there is an unmet
clinical need for accurate non-invasive tests for the early
detection of pancreatic cancer. A currently available serum test,
CA19-9, can be used for monitoring patients already diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer, but there is no serum test today for the initial
diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Ciphergen and The Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine have been collaborating since 2000
focusing on the discovery of novel protein biomarkers of various
cancers. As part of the collaboration, Ciphergen has provided
financial support and technical assistance through its Biomarker
Discovery Center(R) facilities. Ciphergen has an exclusive option
to the therapeutic and diagnostic rights to discoveries made under
the collaboration, with royalties back to Johns Hopkins. Patents
have been filed on the novel biomarkers described in the Journal of
Clinical Cancer Research paper. About Ciphergen Ciphergen's
Diagnostics Division is dedicated to the discovery of protein
biomarkers and panels of biomarkers and their development into
protein molecular diagnostic tests that improve patient care; and
to providing collaborative R&D services through its Biomarker
Discovery Center(R) facilities for biomarker discovery for new
diagnostic tests as well as pharmacoproteomic services for improved
drug toxicology, efficacy and theranostic assays. Ciphergen's
Biosystems Division develops, manufactures and markets a family of
ProteinChip(R) Systems and services for clinical, research, and
process proteomics applications, as well as a broad range of
BioSepra(R) bioseparations media for protein purification and large
scale production. ProteinChip Systems enable protein discovery,
characterization, identification and assay development to provide
researchers with predictive, multi-marker assay capabilities and a
better understanding of biological function at the protein level.
Additional information about Ciphergen can be found at
http://www.ciphergen.com/. Safe Harbor Statement Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements: For purposes of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"), Ciphergen disclaims any
intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements,
and claims the protection of the Safe Harbor for forward-looking
statements contained in the Act. Examples of such forward-looking
statements include statements regarding the potential use of the
marker panel reported in the Journal of Clinical Cancer Research as
a diagnostic test for patients with pancreatic cancer or small
cancers, the use of ProteinChip technology to discover useful
protein biomarkers, develop and commercialize protein molecular
diagnostics that improve patient care, and the ability to provide
services that lead to improved toxicology assays and diagnostic
assays. Actual results may differ materially from those projected
in such forward-looking statements due to various factors,
including the risk that the marker panels reported in the Journal
of Clinical Cancer Research do not validate over larger populations
or can not be developed into clinically useful diagnostic tests,
the ProteinChip technology's ability to validate and/or develop
protein biomarkers as diagnostic or toxicology assays, and
Ciphergen's ability to successfully commercialize any such tests.
Investors should consult Ciphergen's filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-Q dated November 14,
2003, for further information regarding these and the other risks
of the Company's business. NOTE: Ciphergen, ProteinChip, BioSepra
and Biomarker Discovery Center are registered trademarks of
Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. DATASOURCE: Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc.
CONTACT: Sue Carruthers, Investor Relations of Ciphergen
Biosystems, Inc., +1-510-505-2297 Web site:
http://www.ciphergen.com/
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