Fluidigm Corporation (NASDAQ:FLDM), an innovative biotechnology
tools provider with a vision to improve life through comprehensive
health insight, today announced the publication of a new study led
by Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center that further
validates the potential for Imaging Mass Cytometry™ (IMC™) on the
Hyperion™ Imaging System to provide new insights into the
interactions between pancreatic tumor cells and the immune system
and to identify novel targets for therapeutic intervention.
The study also highlights the application of IMC in both protein
and RNA detection, a capability that is extremely valuable for
investigators studying the biological processes in single cells and
precious tissue samples. The study data have been published in the
journal Gastroenterology.
A Fluidigm® Center of Excellence for Imaging Mass
Cytometry (CoE) was established at Georgetown Lombardi in early
2020. The Fluidigm CoE program accelerates adoption of
mass cytometry through the development of new highly multiplexed
panels for the study of cancer, immuno-oncology and immune-mediated
diseases.
Pancreatic cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related
death in the United States. The team led by Georgetown Lombardi
partnered with Fluidigm Therapeutic Insights Services (TIS) to
conduct the study, which combined IMC with RNAscope Technology.
Researchers at Georgetown Lombardi, Georgetown University,
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California,
Merced, University of California, Davis, STCube Pharmaceuticals and
Fluidigm used 12 distinct IMC probes to conduct RNAscope analysis
on normal and diseased pancreatic cells and to evaluate
interactions between these cells and cells of the immune system.
RNAscope is a novel in situ hybridization assay for detection of
target RNA within intact cells, and this publication is the first
to report its use in a multiplexed fashion with 12 different
probes, enabling simultaneous evaluation of multiple targets of
interest and generating richer datasets.
“Pancreatic tumor cells have a fibrotic, immunosuppressive
microenvironment, and this study was designed to evaluate if
strategies that alter this microenvironment might help activate an
antitumor immune response,” said Stephen Byers, PhD, Associate
Director and Professor of Oncology at Georgetown Lombardi and
senior author of the publication. “Results demonstrate that CDH11,
which is overexpressed on cancer-associated fibroblasts, allows
cancer cells to escape detection by the immune system. Inhibiting
CDH11 expression in mice significantly extended survival and
restored sensitivity to gemcitabine, a chemotherapy agent used in
the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
“These findings suggest that CDH11 could have significant
potential as a novel target for pancreatic cancer therapy.”
Key findings of the study include:
- Levels of CDH11 mRNA
and protein were significantly higher in cancer-associated
fibroblasts than in pancreatic cancer epithelial cells, human or
mouse pancreatic cancer cell lines or immune cells.
- Mice in which one or
both copies of the CDH11 gene had been knocked out survived
significantly longer than mice with both copies of the gene.
- Compared with
pancreatic tumors in mice with two copies of CDH11, tumors in mice
with only one copy had increased markers of immune system activity,
decreased extracellular matrix component and reductions in markers
and cytokines associated with immunosuppression.
- Gemcitabine extended
survival only in mice that lacked one or both copies of CDH11 or
when administered in combination with an anti-CDH11 antibody.
- A small molecule
inhibitor of CDH11 reduced the growth of pre-established pancreatic
tumors only if T and B cells were present in mice.
Fluidigm Research and Development and the company’s TIS program
provided support in conducting the IMC analysis for the study. TIS,
created to test and develop new solutions based on IMC, provided
access to IMC technology, services and data analysis, while R&D
scientists developed the method of conjugating metals to RNAscope
reagents.
“Fluidigm is committed to harnessing the power of our
technologies to inform new approaches to therapies, and this
published study demonstrates our ability to generate insights that
have the potential to advance cancer care and outcomes,” said
Andrew Quong, Chief Science Officer of Fluidigm and an author of
the publication. “Significantly, the study also highlights the
potential for IMC in both protein and RNA detection. This
capability is extremely valuable for investigators studying the
biological processes in single cells and with precious tissue
samples.
“We established our Therapeutic Insights Services to expand
access to our IMC and mass cytometry technologies. Going forward,
we intend to leverage TIS to power additional groundbreaking
research in our growing and evolving Center of Excellence program.
The scientific and technological advances made in partnership with
the CoE researchers will be made available to other scientists
through TIS and the launch of new products. Access to these
advances will accelerate the impact of mass cytometry in
understanding critical biologic processes and the translation of
those insights into novel therapies and clinical practice.”
About Imaging Mass CytometryImaging Mass
Cytometry is setting a new standard in tissue imaging,
significantly simplifying high-multiplex panel design and
eliminating the impact of tissue autofluorescence by using highly
pure metal tags for which signals are separated by mass instead of
by wavelength. Incorporating an easy-to-use immunohistochemistry
workflow that simultaneously detects many proteins in a single
scan, IMC is ideal for uncovering new insights in health and
disease and empowering the development of better diagnostics and
more effective therapies.
About FluidigmFluidigm (Nasdaq:FLDM)
focuses on the most pressing needs in translational and clinical
research, including cancer, immunology, and immunotherapy. Using
proprietary CyTOF® and microfluidics technologies, we develop,
manufacture, and market multi-omic solutions to drive meaningful
insights in health and disease, identify biomarkers to inform
decisions, and accelerate the development of more effective
therapies. Our customers are leading academic, government,
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, plant and animal research, and
clinical laboratories worldwide. Together with them, we strive to
increase the quality of life for all. For more information,
visit fluidigm.com.
Fluidigm, the Fluidigm logo, CyTOF, Hyperion, Imaging
Mass Cytometry, and IMC are trademarks and/or registered trademarks
of Fluidigm Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the
sole property of their respective owners. Fluidigm products are
provided for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic
procedures.
Forward-Looking Statements for
Fluidigm This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, statements regarding
potential applications for Fluidigm technology in disease research
and development of therapies and expectations for Fluidigm’s
Therapeutic Insights Services (TIS). Forward-looking statements are
subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from currently anticipated results,
including but not limited to risks relating to the possible loss of
key employees, customers, or suppliers; uncertainties in
contractual relationships; challenges inherent in developing,
manufacturing, launching, marketing, and selling new products;
risks relating to company research and development and distribution
plans and capabilities; interruptions or delays in the supply of
components or materials for, or manufacturing of, Fluidigm
products; potential product performance and quality issues;
intellectual property risks; competition; and reductions in
research and development spending or changes in budget priorities
by customers. Information on these and additional risks and
uncertainties and other information
affecting Fluidigm business and operating results is
contained in Fluidigm’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2019, and in its other filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date
hereof. Fluidigm disclaims any obligation to update these
forward-looking statements except as may be required by law.
Available InformationWe use our website
(fluidigm.com), investor site (investors.fluidigm.com), corporate
Twitter account (@fluidigm), Facebook page (facebook.com/Fluidigm),
and LinkedIn page (linkedin.com/company/fluidigm-corporation) as
channels of distribution of information about our products, our
planned financial and other announcements, our attendance at
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information may be deemed material information, and we may use
these channels to comply with our disclosure obligations under
Regulation FD. Therefore, investors should monitor our website and
our social media accounts in addition to following our press
releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, and
webcasts.
Fluidigm
Media:Mark SpearmanSenior Director, Corporate
Communications650 243 6621mark.spearman@fluidigm.com
Investors:Agnes LeeVice President, Investor
Relations650 416 7423agnes.lee@fluidigm.com
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