Patient samples showing TAB-004 antibody detecting cancer cells rather than normal cells
The staining is so specific with TAB-004, for most cases of mammary carcinoma immunoreactivity in the tumor (the interaction process between the antibody and breast cancer) can be appreciated even without the microscope
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (PRWEB) January 26, 2016
OncoTAb, Inc., a University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) spin-out company, released the findings from a clinical study testing its Agkura™ Personalized Score, a non-invasive blood test for the early detection of breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue. Data from more than 750 patient samples showed that the technology, a patented, monoclonal antibody known as TAB-004, accurately detects a specific biomarker present in more than 90 percent of breast cancer patients and is specific to all major breast cancer subtypes, including triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The blood test will be made available online in Q1, 2016, on the order of a physician or other licensed health care provider, as a supplement to mammography.
“Half of all women have a higher risk for a missed diagnosis on a mammogram due to high breast density. Attempting to identify breast cancer on these mammograms is comparable to looking for a specific snowflake in a snowstorm,” said OncoTAb CEO Rahul Puri. “For the 10 percent of women with extremely dense breast tissue, the risk of a missed diagnosis is four to six times higher. Using our antibody, we are able to personalize the blood serum marker levels and build an early detection strategy for women with dense breast tissue.”
A study published by The New England Journal of Medicine found that 50 percent of all cancers found within 12 months of a negative test were attributed to high breast density. Chad Livasy, MD, a breast pathologist for the Carolinas HealthCare System, reviewed 440 test samples and noted TAB-004’s high level of accuracy.
“The staining is so specific with TAB-004, for most cases of mammary carcinoma immunoreactivity in the tumor (the interaction process between the antibody and breast cancer) can be appreciated even without the microscope,” said Livasy. “You can just hold the slide up to visualize the strong staining. In contrast, benign lesions show absence of staining. Given this specificity, OncoTAb’s blood test may be a useful supplemental test with mammography for women with dense breast tissue.”
The TAB-004 antibody has also shown promise beyond early diagnosis. According to OncoTAb Co-founder and Chief Science Officer Pinku Mukherjee, future applications could change the way breast cancer is treated.
“The data clearly demonstrates that this antibody can be used to target tumors in vivo with promising imaging and therapeutic applications,” said Mukherjee. “These possibilities include the development of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) engineered T-cells for treating TNBC—one of the most difficult cancers to treat.”
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About OncoTAb, Inc.
OncoTAb (http://www.oncotab.com) is a University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) spin-out company that has a patent-protected technology. Its applications span the life cycle of cancer patients, from detecting and locating cancer to treatment and monitoring for recurrence. The company is gearing up to launch its blood test to aid in the early detection of breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue. OncoTAb is in early stages of developing therapeutic applications, including development of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) engineered T-cells for Triple Negative Breast Cancer. The company is seeking to partner/license its technology for the development of an imaging application to detect cancer in women with dense breast tissue.