Agencourt Genomic Services is Key Collaborator in Study on Breast and Colon Cancer Genes

Agencourt Bioscience Corporation, a Beckman Coulter company, has announced that its Genomic Services were integral in a Johns Hopkins study on the genetic code for breast and colon cancers.

A recent and widely publicized report on that study, published this month in Science Express, was co-authored by James Hartigan, an Agencourt project manager.

The research identifies close to 200 mutated genes, now linked to these cancers, most of which were not previously recognized as associated with tumor initiation, growth, spread or control.

The study provides an understanding into disease processes and is expected to drive cancer research for years to come.

Most of the sequencing work and data generation for the study were done by Agencourt's Genomic Services, which has a long-standing relationship with the scientists.

Agencourt Bioscience, as a collaborator, worked closely with the study leader, Dr. Victor Velculescu.

"As a leader in the DNA sequencing industry, Agencourt's Genomic Services are effective for systematic, genome-wide projects and we are proud to have participated in this landmark study," commented Erick Suh, Genomic Services director for Agencourt.

"This is the third major cancer research project in which we have provided sequencing services."

"We are currently in discussions with Johns Hopkins regarding future studies and we will be forging relationships with additional leading cancer centers."