NanoString and MD Anderson Collaborate on Development of Novel Multi-Omic Expression Profiling Assays for Cancer

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX, USA) and NanoString Technologies, Inc. (Seattle, WA, USA) will partner on development of a revolutionary new type of assay—simultaneously profiling gene and protein expression, initially aiming to discover and validate biomarker signatures for immuno-oncology and to extend targeted therapeutics programs.

With the incorporation of this proteomic capability, nCounter Analysis System will hold a unique distinction of having capabilities for concurrent genomic and proteomic analysis. "These types of assays are designed to provide a powerful tool for comprehensively probing tumor biology, with potential to capture the biology needed to optimize the use of new cancer therapeutics, especially in the dynamic field of immuno-oncology, where matching patients with the right combination of therapies is critical," said Gordon Mills, MD, PhD, chair of Systems Biology at MD Anderson, and co-director of the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy. Dr. Mills will lead the collaboration effort.

NanoString’s beta launch of the first panel for simultaneous measurement of gene and protein expression on April 18–22, 2015, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Philadelphia (PA, USA) included a talk by Joe Beechem, PhD, titled "Simultaneous multi-omic measurement of gene fusions, mRNA, and proteins at 800-plex using single-molecule optical barcodes."

nCounter Analysis System is an automated, easy-to-use platform that utilizes a novel digital barcoding chemistry to deliver high-precision multiplexed assays across various research applications. nCounter technology uses color-coded molecular barcodes that can hybridize directly to many different types of target molecules. Assays are enzyme-free and capable of generating high-quality results from challenging sample types, including FFPE tissue.

"In collaboration with experts at MD Anderson, we will be adding a new proteomic dimension to [our] assays, aiming to demonstrate their potential to inform drug development and selection,” said Brad Gray, president and CEO, NanoString Technologies.

Under the terms of the agreement, NanoString is granted rights to research and diagnostic content developed within the scope of the collaboration. Key partnership objectives include: development of multi-omic assays and signatures that profile key oncology disease pathways and immune response from tumor tissue; incorporation of these multi-omic assays into select clinical studies at MD Anderson to predict and monitor response to therapies (both as single agents and combinations); and identification of clinically actionable proteomic markers across multiple tumor types.

Related Links:
NanoString Technologies
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center