Value Proposition:
· Detection of methylation patterns that are linked to prostate cancer development in an individual.
· Enable development of a personalized treatment plan for individuals with aggressive prostate cancer.
· Simultaneous determination of gene methylation and copy number.
Technology Description
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed a method of detecting prostate cancer via genetic signatures. Current diagnostic methods only screen for prostate cancer indirectly. The disclosed has discovered a panel of DNA methylation marks that are present in many patients with prostate cancer or are present in all metastases in patients with PC. These markers can be used to detect aggressive prostate cancer and be used to develop a diagnostic method that is more specific than current screening methods.
Unmet Need
Prostate cancer (PC) screening is conducted by measuring levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. This method often leads to a high false-positive rate of people without clinically significant disease and can miss important cancers at a curable stage [UpToDate]. Using levels of PSA as a screening method is not a direct marker of prostate cancer and is therefore not a reliable diagnostic. A new screening method that is directly linked with prostate cancer is necessary to accurately screen for PC.
Stage of Development
A biomarker panel has been developed and has been validated. Technology has been patented
Data Availability
Data available in listed publications
Publication
Aryee, M. DNA methylation alterations exhibit intraindividual stability and interindividual heterogeneity in prostate cancer metastases.
US10196698B2 DNA methylation markers for metastatic prostate cancer. Srinivasan Yegnasubramanian, G. Steven Bova, Martin Aryee, William B. Isaacs, William G. Nelson
