The latest cancer diagnosis will be available by 2017
Novosibirsk scientists have developed a method for mass peer-to-peer cancer diagnosis
A subsidiary of the SIGMA Nanocenter.Novosibirsk" "Epidzhin" has announced a technology with which it will be possible to diagnose cancer at an early stage in any polyclinic. The technology is included in the federal target program in the direction of "Life Science", it takes about three years for the test system to enter the market.
The scientific development of the method is carried out by the Novosibirsk biotechnological company "SibEnzyme", testing the technology of the World Bank "Vector", the technology is brought to market by the company "Epidzhin", created by the developers of the method and the nanotechnology center "SIGMA.Novosibirsk".
The company predicts that the final cost of the test for the consumer will be no more than 2 thousand rubles.
The method of early diagnosis of cancer is based on the analysis of a DNA molecule. A cancerous tumor does not develop if certain genes ("oncosuppressor genes") are active, the presence of the product of which suppresses tumor formation - accordingly, oncogenic processes can be diagnosed by "disabling" these genes. Novosibirsk biotechnological company "SibEnzyme" has discovered an enzyme and developed a method based on it that finds a switched-off oncosuppressor gene with high accuracy.
The developed technology allows to diagnose cancer by just a few DNA molecules. It takes 4-6 hours to obtain the analysis result, while using standard equipment for PCR tests, which is available in most state clinics; regular medical personnel will be able to conduct the study.
"We analyze the next level of genetic information: in addition to the structure of the genes themselves, it is possible to determine whether they work or not," explains Evgeny Dubinin, head of Epidzhin.
In 2013-2014, the SSC of the World Bank "Vector" successfully tested the method on blood samples of patients and donors. It takes another 3 years to finalize the technology and register the diagnostic kit. The test system will be available for use by 2017.
"Projects in the field of DNA diagnostics are one of the priorities of the network of nanotechnology centers of Rusnano, the main growth points today are the nanocenters of Novosibirsk, Ulyanovsk, Troitsk with the projects "Epidzhin", "Testgen", and the laboratory of genomic research, respectively. We are confident that the cooperation of various scientific groups will give a synergistic effect," said the General director of the SIGMA nanocenter.Novosibirsk" Luisa Lesnaya.
A similar approach to cancer diagnosis is already used abroad, however, due to the high requirements for equipment and qualifications of specialists, the method is not widely used in clinical practice. Currently used diagnostics based on cancer markers that track an increase in the concentration of certain proteins in the blood does not allow detecting progressive cancer at an early stage. At the same time, patients who were diagnosed with cancer at stage I-II survive in 60-95% of cases, for those who were diagnosed with cancer later, this indicator is 10-25%.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru29.08.2014