Correlating SNPs with Breast Cancer - Brief Article

Applied Genetics News, April, 2000

Celera Genomics (761 Main Ave., Norwalk, CT 06859; Tel: 203/762-1000, Fax: 203/762-6000) and City of Hope Cancer Center have entered a collaboration to investigate associations of genetic polymorphisms with breast cancer. Celera retains the rights to use all information generated from the collaboration in its database products. Celera and City of Hope will jointly own all intellectual property developed through this collaboration.

The collaboration combines City of Hope's pioneering clinical genetics approach with Celera's DNA sequence information and polymorphism information databases. City of Hope has developed expertise in a locus stratification approach to establishing the genetic basis of disease. Celera, for its part, has assembled one of the largest sequence databases in the world.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP's) are single base variations within a person's DNA sequence that may make one more susceptible to disease, or better equipped to combat illness. The SNP's being provided to the City of Hope are found within one of the key genes encoding the estrogen receptor and were discovered as part of Celera's internal research programs. Estrogen receptors are known to play major roles in the causation and treatment of breast cancer and other diseases.

"This research collaboration with City of Hope should add significant value to our polymorphism information," says Sam Broder, chief medical officer of Celera.