New microarray developed by Oxford Gene Technology is to facilitate understanding of cancer formation and development
The in-depth genomic analysis carried out by the CytoSureTM Cancer +SNP array helps define the genetic nature of a given tumor, enabling the development of more targeted anti-cancer therapies.
Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), a provider of genetics research and biomarker solutions, based in Oxford, UK, has released a new microarray to improve the accuracy and efficiency of cancer research.
The company, which specializes in cytogenetic products and services for high-resolution detection of chromosomal abnormalities, as well as single-cell analysis, has developed the CytoSureTM Cancer +SNP array, which combines long oligo array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) probes with fully validated single nucleotide polymorphism content. According to a press release from OGT, the microarray, which was optimized in collaboration with Jacqueline Schoumans from the Lausanne University Hospital (Switzerland), an expert in both aCGH and cancer genomics, provides the accurate detection of both copy number variations (CNV) and loss of heterozygosity on a single chip.
Unique to the CytoSure Cancer +SNP array, any reference sample can be used for analysis, without changes to the standard aCGH protocol. The 60-mer oligonucleotide probes utilized in the array provide a high signal-to-noise ratio and highly sensitive detection, making the microarray technology well suited to research into complex malignant tissues. In addition, the microarray’s capacity to use matched samples enables any abnormalities to be clearly highlighted and filtered out using OGT’s CytoSure Interpret SoftwareTM, a feature that is particularly advantageous in the field of research into genetic aberrations in cancer.
Schoumans commented, “We have constructed a new array that allows users to simultaneously screen a wide genomic background for CNVs and loss of heterozygosity, while also enabling in-depth CNV analysis of 1500 known cancer-associated genes.”
The microarray forms part of an ongoing strategy at OGT to design specialized microarrays to help improve our understanding of cancer. In terms of future work, James Clough, Executive Vice President Commercial at OGT, said, “We plan to further add to this portfolio in the coming months, with the introduction of our Cancer Cytogenomics Microarray Consortium array design.” Clough added that through genome-wide CNV and SNP detection, “These arrays will prove a valuable tool for efficiently and accurately defining the genetic nature of a given tumor, facilitating research into more efficacious, targeted treatments
Source: OxfordGene Technology releases new CytoSure™ microarray for cancer research.
