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New MicroRNA Analysis Tools From Applied Biosystems Advance Cancer Research

Business Wire, April 9, 2008

TaqMan[R] Reagents Speed Workflows and Enable Analysis of Trace Amounts of RNA in Cell and Tumor Samples

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FOSTER CITY, Calif. -- Research related to a class of non-coding small RNA molecules called microRNAs (miRNAs) is one of the fastest-growing areas in biomedical research. These molecules have been found to regulate gene expression and have also been implicated in a number of different diseases, including cancer. As researchers continue to investigate how the activity of miRNAs impacts the formation and progression of cancer, they will need more advanced tools. Responding to that need, Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, today announced that it has developed a new set of sophisticated miRNA analysis tools designed to determine the activity, or profile the expression levels of large numbers of miRNA molecules from trace amounts of RNA sample. These new TaqMan-based tools require the smallest amount of starting genetic material needed for miRNA expression profiling applications compared to existing miRNA analysis tools. Use of these new tools is expected to streamline miRNA analysis workflows for researchers and provide comprehensive coverage of miRNAs expressed in cancer cell line and tumor samples, advancing scientists' understanding of the different roles that miRNAs play in the development and progression of cancer.

Previous research has shown that by profiling expression patterns of miRNAs, scientists can identify potential miRNA biomarkers that classify different disease types and identify disease susceptibility. In addition, miRNA expression profiling is helping researchers to better understand the nature of cancer stem cells, which play a key role in the resistance of cancers to conventional therapies. Expression profiles of miRNAs have also revealed clues about how tumors metastasize and spread to other regions of the body. However, researchers performing these kinds of miRNA analysis applications for cancer research often face the challenge of only being able to obtain tiny amounts of RNA from cancerous samples, the starting genetic material needed to carry out these investigative studies.

On Saturday, April 12, at the annual American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) conference in San Diego, Calif., Caifu Chen, Ph.D., an Applied Biosystems scientific fellow for research and development, will describe a new set of miRNA analysis tools at a methods workshop. These tools are currently available in limited release through an early access program. When used together, these tools will provide researchers with a TaqMan-based solution designed to streamline the workflow for microRNA analysis and provide broad, up-to-date coverage of known miRNAs expressed in biological samples, including samples that contain minute amounts of RNA. The tools include:

* Megaplex[TM] RT Pools - High complexity pools of novel stem-looped reverse transcription (RT) primers that reduce the number of RT reactions needed to profile miRNA expression and the total RNA input needed to perform this analysis to as little as a few nanograms.

* Megaplex[TM] PreAmp Primers - Reagents for pre-amplification of the starting RNA sample.

* TaqMan[R] MicroRNA Arrays - A microfluidics card containing TaqMan MicroRNA Assays enabling rapid and reproducible generation of real-time PCR data for hundreds of miRNA targets in parallel.

"Together, these tools give researchers a powerful technology that allows them to create comprehensive profiles of microRNAs expressed in cancer samples," said Dr. Chen. "The use of these new TaqMan miRNA analysis tools should help researchers develop biomarkers for cancer, better understand cancer stem cells, and further elucidate the role of miRNAs in the development and progression of cancer."

Today, these tools are being used by researchers enrolled in an early access program to reveal unique microRNA expression signatures from as little as 1 ng of total RNA sample. This represents at least 100-fold less genetic material than is currently required by existing technologies. By early summer, the Megaplex RT Pools, Megaplex PreAmp Primers and updated TaqMan[R] MicroRNA Arrays are expected to be generally available for use in miRNA expression analysis applications of human, mouse, and rat.

Cancer samples are often collected from heterogeneous tissue, with only a tiny portion in the sample being the cancerous cells containing the RNA needed for expression profiling studies. This RNA must be obtained through either needle biopsy, or a process known as laser capture microdissection (LCM). Also, archived samples are often formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE), a process in which the genetic material is often degraded and RNA yield is relatively low. Commonly, these samples are extremely valuable and of a finite nature, so being able to work with limited amounts of RNA is of paramount importance to researchers. Use of the TaqMan Megaplex reagents is expected to enable researchers to generate a complete profile of expressed miRNA molecules from RNA obtained by needle biopsy, LCM, and freshly frozen or FFPE tumor samples.

Business Services Industry

New MicroRNA Analysis Tools From Applied Biosystems Advance Cancer Research

Business Wire, April 9, 2008

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