OncoPlex Diagnostics Announces the Addition of the Androgen Receptor Protein to Their Quantitative Breast Cancer Proteomic Panel

ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- OncoPlex Diagnostics has developed a quantitative androgen receptor (AR) assay to add to their Breast Cancer Proteomic Panel.  The OncoPlex Diagnostics Breast Panel simultaneously measures multiple clinically-relevant tumor proteins using mass spectrometry to better inform the oncologist on therapy selection. The Breast Cancer Proteomic Panel with the inclusion of AR was featured in a presentation at the 13^th Annual International Future of Breast Cancer Meeting in Huntington Beach, CA on July 19 by Dr. April Speed, Breast Surgical Oncologist, Atlanta, GA. Dr. Speed highlighted AR as a biomarker included in the multi-protein quantitation panel with EGFR, HER2, HER3, IGF1R, MET, PD-L1, and ROS1. In addition, chemotherapy guidance markers FR-alpha, hENT1, RRM1, SPARC, TOPO1, and TOPO2A are included from just two tissue sections. 

Approximately 75% of all breast cancer patients express AR, including 10-20% of all triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients.  Historically, women with TNBC have had limited options for treatment based on guideline-driven algorithms. AR positive TNBC patients represent a unique breast cancer subtype where new treatment options may be available.  Androgen receptor inhibitors that are FDA approved for prostate cancer are currently in clinical trials for breast cancer.  "Recent data are emerging to support androgen receptor as a drug target in breast cancer today," stated Dr. Speed, referring to data from Dr. Joyce O'Shaughnessy's group presented at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

OncoPlex Diagnostics Protein Panels
OncoPlex Diagnostics targeted therapy panels provide actionable results for specific solid tumor indications from only two formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue slides.  The OncoPlex Diagnostics patented Liquid Tissue® process solubilizes FFPE tissue from micro-dissected tumor samples for precise protein quantitation by mass spectrometry analysis. This patented process includes the introduction of a control peptide for each target of interest, ensuring extremely high specificity and no false positives.

About OncoPlex Diagnostics
OncoPlex Diagnostics is the only CAP-accredited, CLIA-certified laboratory to solubilize tumor cell proteins from FFPE tissue and measure the unique peptides in the sample with absolute quantitation.  Genomic mutation analysis by Next Generation Sequencing can also be derived from the same sample. This innovative approach provides more than 20 actionable proteomic results and 50 gene mutation analysis from two tissue sections preserving precious biopsy material.

SOURCE OncoPlex Diagnostics