Genteon and the University of Southern California Announce Cancer Research Collaboration

Capella 400™ System Installed at Institute for Genetic Medicine

  Genteon, Inc. and the Institute for Genetic Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California today announced a research collaboration to develop improved methods for studying the genetics of cancer.  The USC team, led by Juergen Reichardt, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Preventive Medicine, will use the Capella 400ä Genetic Analysis System to study genetic mutations and the regulation of gene expression associated with certain cancers.

  Capillary electrophoresis is one of the most widely used techniques for genetic analysis.  The Capella 400, with Dynamic Fluorescence™ detection, is a fully automated, high-capacity (384 capillary) electrophoresis system that does not require the use of expensive fluorescent dyes.  The Capella 400 greatly increases the speed and reduces the cost of genetic analysis, while providing versatility for a wide range of applications.

  According to Reichardt, “Our research will take advantage of the speed, versatility and economy of the Capella 400 system to study the genetics of prostate cancer.  We will study mutations known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their relationship to the incidence of prostate tumors.”  A second project will investigate loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in genes from prostate tumor samples.  LOH can be used as an indicator of disease status and prognosis for cancer patients.

  In a closely related study, the laboratory of Joseph Hacia, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at USC will develop new methods for studying DNA methylation.  Aberrant DNA methylation patterns can silence genes that control cell growth, promoting cancer formation and progression.  Hacia said, “High-throughput screening methods being developed on the Capella 400 are needed to identify DNA methylation patterns in certain cancers.  These methods may lead to more accurate ways of classifying tumors and predicting their response to medical treatment.”

  “We are very pleased to be working with USC on studies that could have a significant impact on human healthcare, particularly the diagnosis and treatment of cancer,” said Audrey Keane, President & CEO of Genteon.  “This collaboration will further demonstrate important benefits of the Capella 400 System including its high capacity, versatility, accuracy, and low operating costs.”

  Genteon, Inc. develops and manufactures high-performance analytical instruments for genomic and proteomic analysis.  Founded in November 2000, the company introduced its first product, the Capella 400™ System in October 2001.  Company headquarters, R&D and manufacturing facilities are located in San Diego, California.

  The Institute for Genetic Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, established in 1989, is an interdisciplinary institute, with scientists and clinicians working to expedite the transfer of scientific understanding from the laboratory bench to the hospital bed.  Key research areas include identification of specific genetic culprits that cause diseases, the cellular mechanisms that activate and deactivate different genes, and the regulatory systems that control the production of gene products.