Biotech Italy: Multicenter study for Xeptagen biomarker
The Italian Association of Hospital Gastroenterologists (AIGO) is now organizing a multicenter, prospective, observational study to validate the diagnostic value of the novel biomarker SCCA-IgM from Xeptagen SpA (Marghera, Italy) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
The study, coordinated by Prof. Mario Salvagnini, Gastroenterology Unit, Vicenza Hospital and Prof. Mauro Borzio, Department of Medicine, Liver Unit, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Milan started on November 16, 2008 in 15 major Italian clinical centers by initiating the recruitment of 150 volunteers among cirrhotic patients who underwent regular HCC surveillance programs.
Additional expected study outcomes are the comparison of SCCA-IgM diagnostic sensitivity with AFP and the correlation of SCCA-IgM serum levels with HCC survival and/or evolution.
Xeptagen is engaged in the discovery and validation of novel molecular markers in order to produce innovative diagnostic kits for the early detection, monitoring, and screening of cancerous cells. By exploiting the natural immune response to early stage cancer and the proprietary platform technology Combinatorial Proteomic, Xeptagen has discovered specific tumor markers that lead to an earlier and much more accurate detection of developing carcinomas.
Xeptagen is pursuing two approaches that work in synergy, thus building up an integrated strategy to diagnose cancer: extending validation of biomarkers-IgM immune complexes for prostate, lung, breast, ovarian and esophagus cancer; and developing biochips for the simultaneous detection of biomarkers-IgM immune complexes associated to several cancer forms.
The company is interested in partnering opportunities to explore additional applications for its Combinatorial Proteomic platform technology and the development of an optoelectronic biochip for the simultaneous determination of tumor molecular markers.
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