MicroRNA-Based Diagnostic to Predict Lung Cancer Recurrence

A microRNA-based diagnostic test will be developed to predict risk of disease recurrence in lung cancer patients who have undergone curative resection.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are naturally occurring, small RNAs that have the potential to form the basis for a new class of diagnostics and therapeutics. Since many diseases are caused by the abnormal activity of proteins, the ability to selectively regulate protein activity through microRNAs promises to provide the means to treat a wide range of human diseases. MicroRNAs have been shown to have different expression in various pathologic conditions; these differences should provide for a novel diagnostic strategy for many diseases.

Current treatment for lung cancer includes surgical resection that may be followed by adjuvant therapy. Patients with high risk of recurrence might benefit from adjuvant therapy, but those with low risk of recurrence could be exposed to unnecessary toxicities.

Rosetta Genomics, Ltd. (Rehovot, Israel) will collaborate with the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX, USA) and the University's Kleberg Center for Molecular Markers to develop a test that will enable physicians to distinguish between patients with high- and low-risk of recurrence to optimize treatment regimens.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women worldwide and in the United States. In 2008 alone, there will be about 215,020 new cases of lung cancer in the United States, and approximately 160,000 people are expected to die of the disease.

"The potential diagnostic applications of microRNA biomarkers are broad and diverse,” noted Mr. Amir Avniel, president and CEO of Rosetta Genomics. "We are very pleased to be collaborating with M.D. Anderson, one of the world's leading cancer research centers, on this important project in lung cancer. We believe that the experience we have in working with microRNA biomarkers, combined with M.D. Anderson's extensive experience in lung cancer research, makes this a strong collaboration which may have a significant impact on the way lung cancer patients are diagnosed and treated.


Related Links:
Rosetta Genomics
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center