Gene Test for Bladder Cancer

Based on preliminary clinical studies, the presence of the Survivin gene in urine may help identify those patients with bladder cancer or at risk for recurrence after treatment. The studies were conducted by investigators at the Yale University School of Medicine (New Haven, CT, USA).

"Survivin is thought to shield tumor cells from a physiologic process of cell death called apoptosis and to promote cell proliferation,” explained Dario Altieri, M.D., professor of pathology, Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine at Yale, who led the studies. "For its almost selective expression in cancer and not in normal tissues, Survivin is a potentially ideal diagnostic tool.”

The worldwide rights to develop and commercialize cancer diagnostic tests based on Survivin have been acquired by Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc. (FDI, Malvern, PA, USA). Survivin was chosen because of its specific expression in tumor tissues. The agreement between Yale and FDI also includes diagnostic rights for therapeutic drug monitoring. In return, FDI will provide Yale with license fees, milestone payments, and royalties on future sales.

"Bladder cancer is sorely lacking in reliable tests for detection of disease. Given Survivin's pivotal role in inhibiting cell death, a hallmark of all cancers, it may have utility in the diagnosis, prognosis, or monitoring of other cancers as well,” said Daniel J. O'Shannessy, Ph.D., FDI's chief scientific officer.




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Yale University School of Medicine
Fujirebio