Epistem Presents its new Ex Vivo Plucked Hair Biomarker Assay at EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium
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Epistem plc has announced presentation of its novel ex vivo plucked hair biomarker assay at the EORTC-NCI-AACR Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics Symposium in Berlin on Friday 19th November.
Epistem has developed a method for maintaining plucked human hairs ex vivo, and then treating with therapeutic agents to obtain valuable information on the cellular response to drug treatment.
Epistem senior scientist Dr Ben Jackson will present the model during the "Biomarkers" poster category (abstract # 648). The data demonstrate that freshly plucked hairs can be kept in short-term culture and that treatment-related changes in protein expression can be detected by immunohistochemistry and quantified by image analysis. This continues the expansion of Epistem's hair biomarker platform in which plucked hairs act as a surrogate biomarker tissue for monitoring the specific pharmacodynamic response of epithelial tissue to oncology agents.
The addition of this ex vivo assay permits the rapid treatment and analysis of hair, confirming its utility in biomarker programmes before commencing more costly clinical studies with patients.
Matthew Walls, Epistem CEO commented "Epistem are at the forefront of biomarker research and continue to invest in the development of innovative models to assist the drug development industry with their biomarker programmes. The new ex vivo assay further complements our growing portfolio of personalized medicine applications".
Epistem has developed a method for maintaining plucked human hairs ex vivo, and then treating with therapeutic agents to obtain valuable information on the cellular response to drug treatment.
Epistem senior scientist Dr Ben Jackson will present the model during the "Biomarkers" poster category (abstract # 648). The data demonstrate that freshly plucked hairs can be kept in short-term culture and that treatment-related changes in protein expression can be detected by immunohistochemistry and quantified by image analysis. This continues the expansion of Epistem's hair biomarker platform in which plucked hairs act as a surrogate biomarker tissue for monitoring the specific pharmacodynamic response of epithelial tissue to oncology agents.
The addition of this ex vivo assay permits the rapid treatment and analysis of hair, confirming its utility in biomarker programmes before commencing more costly clinical studies with patients.
Matthew Walls, Epistem CEO commented "Epistem are at the forefront of biomarker research and continue to invest in the development of innovative models to assist the drug development industry with their biomarker programmes. The new ex vivo assay further complements our growing portfolio of personalized medicine applications".
