Institut Curie and Affymetrix launch strategic alliance

Institut Curie and Affymetrix have launched a strategic alliance that will use Affymetrix's GeneChip microarray technology in large-scale clinical studies designed to produce genetic signatures for different types of cancer.

These could then be used to develop diagnostic tests. By combining Institut Curie's state-of-the-art techniques for collecting tumour samples with the only microarray technology used in both clinical research and clinical diagnostics, the participants hope to quickly translate cancer research into breakthrough tools for cancer treatment.

Institut Curie, one of the largest cancer research centres in Europe, will conduct the studies from its translational medicine division. The first two projects will focus on identifying important genetic markers for cancer prognosis, including markers to help predict breast cancer relapse and to determine the likelihood of tumours in the eye spreading further.

Researchers are optimistic about the prospects of success for two reasons. First, over the past 15 years Institut Curie has developed an extensive library of high-quality tumour samples using an advanced 'snap-frozen' sampling method. Researchers believe the exceptional quality of the samples should produce more accurate and reliable diagnostics. Second, the Affymetrix platform allows scientists to conduct cancer research and diagnostic test development on the same microarray technology, potentially enabling researchers to get these tools to doctors and patients quicker.

'The strategic alliance with Affymetrix is very timely for the Institut Curie translational research programmes,' said Jean Paul Thiery, Institut Curie, director of Translational Research department. 'We have developed new bioinformatic tools to analyse complex RNA expression profiles of a large series of well-annotated tumours. We anticipate that this alliance should lead to the discovery of new diagnostic and prognostic markers using one of the most advanced technological approaches in descriptive genomics. This collaboration also greatly benefits from the cutting-edge technologies and conceptual strategies currently practiced at the Institut Curie in basic and clinical research.'

'We are extremely excited about the opportunity to work with Institut Curie,' said Philippe Cotrel, Affymetrix, director of marketing, Europe. 'Using Affymetrix technology to do both the research and to develop resulting diagnostics could speed the process and get these tools into doctors' hands quicker, helping to bridge the gap between clinical research and patient care."

Each translational medicine study will use GeneChip microarrays to analyse the DNA sequence and gene expression for 250 tumour samples, providing scientists with a genetic fingerprint, or biomarker, of each disease. This fingerprint can help doctors identify the disease in other patients, predict how it may progress and assist them in choosing the right treatment for breast and eye cancer.