OGT releases first in a new line of cancer microarrays

March 14, 2012 - PRLog -- Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), provider of innovative clinical genetics and diagnostic solutions to advance molecular medicine, has released the first in a number of new microarrays for use in cancer research. The new CytoSure™ Haematological Cancer +SNP array is optimised for the study of the haematological malignancies Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) and Multiple Myeloma (MM), as well as Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) and Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). The new array offers confident detection of both copy number variation (CNV) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on a single chip for these diseases. This is achieved by utilising OGT’s novel array design, which combines long oligo array comparative genomic hybridisation (aCGH) probes for CNV detection with fully validated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) content for identifying LOH.

The probes on the new array have been optimised to target regions known to be important predictors of disease progression and patient prognosis in haematological cancers, while providing good backbone coverage. These features facilitate the rapid, reliable identification of key genomic aberrations, while the complimentary, industry-leading CytoSure Interpret Software allows intuitive, single-click data analysis. Using the new array, researchers can move quickly and assuredly from processing their samples to generating relevant biological insight.

James Clough, Vice President OGT Clinical & Genomic Solutions, commented: “OGT has worked in collaboration with leading researchers to develop the CytoSure Haematological Cancer +SNP array. The new array is the first member of a rapidly expanding portfolio we are developing for the genetic analysis of cancerous lesions, with several other additions set to be released in the near future.”

The new CytoSure™ Haematological Cancer +SNP array offers reliable and accurate aCGH and LOH detection on a single array by utilising a unique SNP probe design. Analysis is carried out using an intensity-based comparison between the two SNP alleles, meaning that no changes to the standard aCGH protocol are required and any reference sample can be used. This allows the two tests to operate effectively on the same array. In addition, CytoSure arrays utilise 60-mer oligonucleotide probes, which have been shown to offer higher signal-to-noise ratios and increased specificity and sensitivity, providing the highest data quality possible. For optimum performance, the array can be combined with the CytoSure Genomic DNA Labelling Kit, which offers high signal intensities enabling easier allele discrimination.

OGT will be exhibiting, discussing and presenting the new arrays at several meetings around the world over the coming months. These include the International Society of Cellular Oncology (ISCO) Congress 2012 in Mallorca, Spain (4-8 March), the 31st UK Cancer Cytogenetics Group Meeting in Newcastle, UK (22-23 March) and the Australian Society of Cytogenetics (ASOC) Meeting 2012 in Port Stephens, Australia (23-25 March). Visit the events page of the OGT website for more information.

Further information about the new CytoSure Haematological Cancer +SNP array can be found at www.ogt.co.uk/cancer  

For further information, please contact:

Oxford Gene Technology,
T: +44 (0) 1865 856826 ;
F: +44 (0) 1865 848684 ;
E: products@ogt.co.uk
W: http://www.ogt.co.uk ;
Twitter: @OxfordGeneTech

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