Developing Improved Tools for Cancer Care

Source BioScience, the international genetic analysis and diagnostics business, is working to bring state-of-the-art DNA sequencing technology to the clinic. In the research, funded by the Technology Strategy Board, Source BioScience and scientists from Barts Cancer Institute are developing a novel test that can be applied to cancers to guide treatment decisions.

With an extensive armoury available to doctors in the battle against cancer, choosing the best course of therapy is increasingly important. Knowing in advance which patients may respond to treatment can be vital to ensure a quick and effective choice is made. “Companion diagnostics” - currently rely on an array of different platforms and techniques. The gene-based testing being developed by Source BioScience aims to change that by performing a detailed analysis of the tumour DNA and highlighting mutations in the cancer that may have an impact on its response to therapy. Using the resolution of next-generation sequencing that allows the simultaneous analysis of large numbers of target genes, the sensitive test produces a comprehensive analysis to identify mutations in the sample including rare mutations that other existing methods may fail to detect.

The TSB Stratified Medicines Programme will provide much-needed access to the rapidly evolving DNA sequencing technologies whose importance to modern healthcare and medicine is very much recognised. The TSB programme is part of a concerted effort to incorporate new technologies into personalised medicine in the UK; a move supported by a recent report by the PGH foundation.

Source Bioscience has a long history of working closely with research scientists and healthcare professionals in the NHS to deliver a wide range of high quality diagnostic testing services. Source BioScience CEO Nick Ash said “The goal of personalised medicine is to enable clinicians to tailor treatment for every individual patient. The TSB ‘Stratified Medicines Programme’ is an important step towards this goal, aiming to provide as much information as possible for the best chance of successfully treating disease. The molecular diagnostic test Source BioScience is developing as part of the TSB ‘Stratified Medicines Programme’ will help to keep the UK at the forefront of cancer diagnostics.”