A functional biomarker that can predict whether BRAF-mutant melanomas respond to drugs targeting BRAF could help guide the treatment of patients with these cancers, according to results presented here at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, held Oct. 19 – 23.
MRV Research
Reshaping the Molecular Diagnostic Industry with Less Invasive Tests
The molecular diagnostics industry is going through a flash point with valuations being determined by Wall Street as new technologies are re-shaping the landscape of the industry. The worldwide market for molecular testing was $3.7 billion in 2007 and is projected to hit $6.2 billion this year, demonstrating the tremendous annual growth as the healthcare space demands new diagnostic tools to improve outcomes and more efficiently detect and monitor diseases. A few companies, such as TrovaGene, Inc. (TROV), Exact Sciences Corp. (EXAS) and Aethlon Medical Inc.’s (AEMD) Exosome Sciences, Inc., are emerging with less invasive procedures that can open the door to new markets in molecular diagnostics and meet this area of great unmet medical need.
Potential new drug effective in breast cancer and melanoma resistant to targeted therapies
Medical Express has reported that LEE011, a small-molecule inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 4/6 being developed by Novartis Oncology, showed promising results in drug-resistant melanoma and drug-resistant breast cancer when tested in combination with other targeted therapies, and based on these preclinical results, several phase I clinical trials were launched recently, according to results presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, held October 19-23.
Melanoma Genome Project on track
The Melanoma Genome Project (MGP), a large-scale national collaboration based at the Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) and managed by the commonwealth infrastructure enabling body Bioplatforms Australia (BPA), is gearing up to deliver its data early in 2014.