Marker Proteins in Blood Aid Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

An assay measures certain protein biomarkers that are present in the blood of patients with prostate cancer and absent in patients who do not have prostate cancer.

Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. (Fremont, CA, USA) announced that the European Patient Office (EPO) has issued EU Patent No. 1,224,466, entitled Prostate Cancer Marker Proteins, for aiding in prostate cancer diagnosis. This patent is another example of Ciphergen's position as a leading developer of novel high-value diagnostic tests, and our intellectual property portfolio is growing in size and strength, said Gail S. Page, CEO of Ciphergen Biosystems. We continue to generate promising data for biomarkers that may be useful for prostate cancer diagnosis, disease monitoring, or prediction of recurrence.

In May 2006, Ciphergen and Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD, USA) reported the discovery of two biomarkers that, when combined with prostate-specific antigen (PSA), were highly predictive of likelihood of recurrence of prostate cancer. The data resulted from two studies--one examined over 400 men with prostate cancer, and the other examined 50 pairs of men followed for five years with prostate cancer, matched for age, cancer stage, and other clinical parameters. These results suggest the potential for a test to: (1) aid in the diagnosis of prostate cancer; (2) aid in the stratification of risk of highly aggressive prostate cancer, independent of other clinical variables; (3) reduce over-treatment of prostate cancer in cases not likely to be lethal; and (4) shift treatment to those cases that are particularly likely to be lethal.

Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. is dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel high-value diagnostic tests that help physicians diagnose, treat, and improve outcomes for patients. Ciphergen has ongoing diagnostic programs in oncology/hematology, cardiology, and women's health with an initial focus in ovarian cancer. Ciphergen is a registered trademark of Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc.


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