Biochips can detect cancers before symptoms develop
Eprogen, Inc., has licensed Argonne's biochip technology to search
for new biomarkers that indicate cancer
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Argonne biologist Daniel Schabacker prepares to load a biochip onto a scanner developed by one of Argonne's licensees, Aurora Photonics. |
"Antibodies are the guardians of what goes on in the body," said Tim Barder, president of Eprogen, Inc. "If a cancer cell produces aberrant proteins, then it's very likely that the patient will have an antibody profile that differs from that of a healthy person. You can look for similarities and differences in autoantibody profiles to look for clues and markers that provide early indicators of disease."
The new technology, known as a biochip, consists of a one-centimeter by one centimeter array that comprises anywhere between several dozen and several hundred "dots" or small drops. Each of these drops contains a unique protein, antibody or nucleic acid that will attach to a particular DNA sequence or antigen.
A tumor, even in its earliest asymptomatic phases, can slough off proteins that find their way into a patient's circulatory system. These proteins trigger the immune system to kick into gear, producing antibodies that regulate which proteins belong and which do not.
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