Qiagen N.V., a leading global provider of sample to insight solutions, launched two novel liquid biopsy panels to evaluate circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the growing field of research into molecular mechanisms in prostate and lung cancers. The AdnaTest ProstateCancerPanel AR-V7 Kit and AdnaTest LungCancer Kit will be introduced at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2018 Annual Meeting from April 14-18 in Chicago.

Also at the AACR conference, more than 40 scientific abstracts are highlighting studies relying on applications of a broad range of Qiagen’s Sample to Insight solutions – differentiated sample technologies, tools for analysis on platforms for next-generation sequencing (NGS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and bioinformatics solutions to deliver actionable insights from molecular testing.

“We are excited to collaborate with the cancer research community at AACR 2018 in driving innovative science to fulfill the hope of improving patient care. Our AdnaTest liquid biopsy-based portfolio now offers molecular characterization in leading cancers with insights into tumor biology, pathways, relevant biomarkers, cancer progression and even resistance to therapy,” said Dr. Thomas Schweins, senior vice president and head of Qiagen’s Life Sciences Business Area. “Abstracts being presented at AACR feature dozens of novel solutions from our Sample to Insight portfolio for discovery research and clinical development, with promise for transforming the future of cancer care.”

The new AdnaTests build on Qiagen’s proprietary AdnaTest Combination of Combinations Principle technology, a highly specific immunomagnetic cell-selection system for enriching circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from peripheral blood that allows sensitive analysis of cancer-associated gene expression.

The novel AdnaTest ProstateCancerPanel AR-V7 Kit provides new insights into tumor biology by detecting the androgen receptor splice variant 7 in CTCs of prostate tumor origin isolated from blood samples to investigate potential resistance to drugs for advanced prostate cancer. With an exclusive worldwide license from Johns Hopkins University for nucleic acid detection of the AR-V7 biomarker for diagnostic use, Qiagen is now launching the test for research use. Johns Hopkins researchers first highlighted the potential clinical relevance of AR-V7 in a 2014 article in the New England Journal of Medicine. In the study, they used AdnaTest workflows for isolation, enrichment and detection of the AR-V7 marker from CTCs in blood samples using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, with about 1.1 million diagnosed worldwide and an estimated 307,000 deaths in 2012, the most recent year for which global statistics are available, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). About one in nine men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, and it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for American men, according to the American Cancer Society’s 2018 estimates.

The new AdnaTest LungCancer Kit delivers unique insights into the molecular mechanisms of lung cancer through highly specific selection of CTCs, including stem cell-like cells implicated in cancer growth and epithelial-mesenchymaltransition (EMT), an important marker of resistance to cancer therapy. A proprietary set of antibodies provides sensitive detection of lung cancer-associated targets through reverse-transcriptase PCR. The open system ensures flexibility for users to add the targets of interest.

Lung cancer is the world’s most common cancer and the leading cause of death from cancer. About 1.8 million people were diagnosed with lung cancer and 1.59 million died in 2012, the most recent year for which statistics are available, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the United States, lung and bronchus cancer is the second most common cancer but by far the most deadly, with an estimated 154,000 deaths expected in 2018, according to the American Cancer Society.

“The ability to analyze circulating tumor cells offers potential to expand our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of lung and prostate cancer and advance new approaches to treatment. With the high specificity and sensitivity of the AdnaTest kits, researchers can use liquid biopsies to achieve reliable, accurate characterization of lung and prostate cancer CTCs for interpretation of disease development and metastasis,” said Michael Kazinski, Senior Director and head of Sample Technologies at Qiagen.