Metamark Genetics Announces Cancer Cell Study Highlighting Discovery of Key Molecules that Drive Progression of Malignant Melanoma in Humans

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Metamark Genetics, Inc., a privately-held oncology-focused molecular diagnostics company, today announced results from a melanoma study published in Cancer Cell.  The study describes the identification and functional characterization of proteins that confer metastatic and invasive properties to early stage primary melanomas, the most deadly form of skin cancer in humans. The studies were conducted in the laboratories of Metamark Scientific Founders Lynda Chin, M.D., and Ron DePinho, M.D., from the Belfer Institute for Applied Sciences and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and David Rimm, M.D., Ph.D. of Yale University.

"The findings from this study represent an important milestone in our efforts to predict whether or not an early melanoma lesion will eventually progress to metastatic and deadly disease," said Dr. Chin. "Moreover, since these proteins are functionally involved in the tumor progression, they are also potential drug target candidates."

Melanoma is a form a cancer that originates in pigment-forming cells, or melanocytes, and is most commonly found in the skin where it typically arises from moles. In the United States alone, there were 68,130 new cases of melanoma last year, and approximately 8,700 deaths from the disease.

Cancer Cell study investigators utilized a novel approach that involved integrating results from refined, genetically engineered mouse models with human cancer data and subsequent functional studies. The researchers were able to identify and validate six genes that are crucial for invasion and metastatic behavior of cutaneous melanomas.

"We believe that these findings significantly contribute to our molecular understanding of malignant melanoma with the potential to improve methods of defining prognosis and selection of optimal treatment strategies for patients with this disease," said Dr. Chin. "Our functional studies show that these proteins are driving the aggressive behavior of melanoma. Further, when they are expressed across other tumor types they may play a similar role. This is supported by the fact that when we analyzed human breast cancer samples, some of these proteins were also able to predict the prognosis for patients with these tumors."

Metamark has exclusively licensed a portfolio of technologies, including those described in this manuscript, from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Based on the results of the Cancer Cell study, Metamark is developing a novel test for determining the prognosis of early stage melanoma.

"The reported Cancer Cell findings are of great importance for Metamark and further our efforts to predict the prognosis of early stage cancers, including malignant melanoma," said Peter Blume-Jensen, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Metamark. "This research is a concrete example of the value provided through the functional identification of molecules that play a direct role in tumor aggressiveness and supports Metamark's founding principle that early stage tumors contain key molecular information about their progression propensity. Our next goal is to incorporate markers such as these into molecular tests that will enable the identification of patients at high risk for progression independent of traditional risk parameters, such as lymph node status and thickness of the primary lesions."

This Cancer Cell study can be found at the following URL: http://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/abstract/S1535-6108(11)00195-4

About Metamark Genetics, Inc.

Metamark is a privately held oncology company focused on the development of function-based prognostic assays for early staged cancers. The MetamarkDx™ Prognostic Assays under development are based on Metamark's proprietary Prognosis Determinants™, genes discovered through leading edge cancer research and demonstrated to play a causal role in promoting tumor progression and spread. For further information, please visit the company's website at www.metamarkgenetics.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release, and information contained on Metamark's website, contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding Metamark's strategies and future plans, prospects and results, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.  Metamark may not actually achieve the plans or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on its forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Metamark Genetics, Inc.