EVRY, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IntegraGen, a leading player in the development and marketing of molecular diagnostic testing in oncology and autism, announced today the publication of a study in the online edition of Gastroenterology reporting results with its proprietary 5-gene expression molecular signature. The study authors report that the molecular signature demonstrates the ability to accurately predict the clinical prognosis of patients with a primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and in whom surgical resection of the affected part of the liver is being considered. The signature allows for the determination of which patients will likely benefit the most from the surgery. The paper, entitled A Hepatocellular Carcinoma 5-Gene Score Associated With Survival of Patients After Liver Resection can be found in its entirety online at www.gastrojournal.org.
The publication, based on a study of 738 patients, details the identification and replication of a 5-gene molecular prognostic signature in a cohort of 179 HCC patients treated in French hospitals at Bordeaux and Créteil (Henri Mondor Hospital, AP-HP) and the validation of this signature in 559 HCC patients representing independent patient cohorts from France, Spain, Italy, Japan, China, and the United States. The 5-gene score was found to more accurately predict HCC patient outcomes than gene expression signatures previously reported. In multivariate analyses, the 5-gene score was shown to be associated with disease-specific survival, independent of other clinical and pathology feature of HCC. It is anticipated that this signature will be of particular interest to clinicians since it may allow for a better definition of transplant indications in this patient population and an improved understanding of an individual’s risk of cancer recurrence or death.
"This is a major advance in the treatment of malignant tumors of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma," stated Jessica Zucman-Rossi, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Oncology, University Paris Descartes, Hospital Européen Georges Pompidou and Head of the INSERM unit on Functional Genomics of Solid Tumors in Paris. "This is the first time that doctors will be able to identify patients with relatively good prognosis for which support will be truly personalized and allow them to benefit from all of the medical and surgical options which exist or are being developed. This is potentially a major advance in the treatment of liver cancer, a disease that affects an estimated 750,000 individuals worldwide per year and is the fifth leading cause of cancer death.”
"We are particularly proud to have contributed both scientifically and financially to the development of this signature which is now on a path for clinical use in the near term," added Dr. Bernard Courtieu, IntegraGen’s Chief Executive Officer. “IntegraGen envisions that this 5-gene signature may present several advantages to physicians responsible for therapeutic and/or surgical strategies for liver cancer patients.”
The research reported in this publication was funded by several grants, and in particular, by grants from the French League Against Cancer. “We are very proud to have supported the INSERM U674 team and have contributed to their work since 2007, through our research program “Cartesd’Identité des Tumeurs®”, because the results published today constitute a major step forward in improving the care of patients and evidence that research against cancer provides practical answers, usable by physicians in their daily practice to fight against liver cancer," says Pr. Jacqueline Godet, President of the French League Against Cancer.
About IntegraGen
Founded in 2000, IntegraGen (ALINT.PA) is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of molecular diagnostic tests in the fields of autism and oncology. IntegraGen’s mission is to translate molecular research into clinical practice through the identification of novel genetic biomarkers and the subsequent development of molecular diagnostic tests which allow clinicians to better manage the clinical care of their patients. IntegraGen is also a leader in delivering expert genomic service solutions to academic researchers and life sciences companies as a result of its scientific knowledge and technological expertise related to cutting edge genomic platforms and bioinformatics.
For more information about IntegraGen visit www.integragen.com
About INSERM
Inserm is the only French public organization entirely dedicated to biological, medical and public health. Its researchers are committed to studying all diseases, whether common or rare. Inserm organizes national coordination of this research in 10 institutes: cancer, circulation, metabolism, nutrition, genetics, genomics and bioinformatics, molecular and structural basis of life, cell biology, development and evolution, immunology, hematology and pneumology; infectious diseases. Inserm is a member of the National Alliance for Life Sciences and Health (Aviesan), founded in April 2009 with the CNRS, INSERM, CEA, INRA, INRIA, IRD the Pasteur Institute, the Conference of University Presidents (CPU) and the Conference of Directors General of Regional and University Hospitals. This alliance is part of the policy of reform efforts to better coordinate the role of different actors and to strengthen the position of the French research in this sector through joint programming.
For more information visit www.inserm.fr or www.aviesan.fr
About InsermTransfert
Founded in 2000, InsermTransfert SA is the private subsidiary of the French National Institute of the Health and Medical Research (Inserm), dedicated to technology transfer (from invention disclosure to industrial partnership). InsermTransfert manages European and International research projects, supports large scale projects in epidemiology and public health. Since 2009, InsermTransfert has run a proof of concept fund. The company is also committed to seed financing in the biotech sector, through its dedicated seed fund company InsermTransfert Initiative.
For more information visit www.inserm-transfert.fr
About the French League Against Cancer
French League Against Cancer is an independent, non-governmental organization that is an independent voluntary funder of research against cancer. With nearly 700,000 members and 13,000 volunteers, the League is a grassroots movement organized into a federation of 103 local committees. Together, they fight in three complementary directions: search for cure, prevent to protect, support for help. Today, the League is making the fight against cancer a societal issue bringing together the largest possible number of actors health but also economic, social or political in all territories. Breaking taboos and fears, the League contributes to change the image of cancer and those who are affected. The French League Against Cancer finances and manages a national program of cancer genomics, called CIT “Cartesd’Indentité des Tumeurs®” (Tumor Identity Cards). This program (http://cit.ligue-cancer.net) aims at characterizing multiple tumor types on a pangenomic scale to progress toward personalized medicine.
For more information visit www.ligue-cancer.net or follow us at www.facebook.com/laliguecontrelecancer or at twitter.com/laliguecancer
