Cancer is any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division. It may spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood stream. Cancer includes the two broad categories of carcinoma and sarcoma, but in normal usage it is often used synonymously with carcinoma.

Agencourt genomic services is key collaborator in new study on breast and colon cancer genes

Cancer :: Agencourt genomic services is key collaborator in new study on breast and colon cancer genes

Agencourt Bioscience Corporation, a Beckman Coulter company, has announced that its Genomic Services were integral in a breakthrough 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 Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center 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."

Agencourt Bioscience Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Beckman Coulter, is a leading provider of nucleic acid purification products and genomic services for life science research. The company's products and services are based on the patented Agencourt SPRI(R) (Solid Phase Reversible Immobilization) paramagnetic bead-based technology.

Beckman Coulter, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of biomedical testing instrument systems, tests and supplies that simplify and automate laboratory processes. Spanning the biomedical testing continuum -- from pioneering medical research and clinical trials to laboratory diagnostics and point-of-care testing -- Beckman Coulter's 200,000 installed systems provide essential biomedical information to enhance health care around the world. The company, based in Fullerton, California, reported 2005 annual sales of $2.44 billion. For more information, visit http://www.beckmancoulter.com.

Paez et.al. "EGFR Mutations in Lung Cancer: Correlation with Clinical Response to Gefitinib Therapy." Science, 4 June 2004, 1497 - 1500.

Levine et al. "The JAK2V617F Activating Mutation Occurs in Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia, But Not in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia." Blood, 15 November 2005, 3377-3379. Sjoblom et al. The Consensus Coding Sequences of Human Breast and Colorectal Cancers, Science, 07 September 2006.

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