Rosetta Genomics, a cancer research firm based in Philadelphia, has reached an agreement with Super Religare Laboratories, a biotech firm headquartered in India, to distribute Rosetta's new cancer testing methods throughout the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. The deal includes making the new tests available in countries such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The new tests, called "miRview" tests, use genetic templates that carry certain molecular sequences based on their "microRNA". Many microRNA sequences have been linked to cancer and these new tests are among the first ones that use these sequences to detect diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.
The three tests include one under the trademarked name of "miRviewTM meso". This test uses microRNA markers to determine if a particular tumor is mesothelioma or another type of lung cancer. Mesothelioma often occurs in patients who have had long-term exposure to asbestos. Over time, as the patient inhales asbestos fibers, these fibers irritate the lining of the lungs and mutate the cells into malignant tumors. Since the symptoms of mesothelioma are often similar to those of other lung diseases, doctors frequently have a difficult time diagnosing it. With the miRviewTM meso test, doctors will be able to differentiate a diagnosis of mesothelioma with one of other forms of lung cancer.
According to Super Religare Laboratories Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sanjeev Chaudhry, the new tests and the partnership with Rosetta will reduce the time it takes to receive an accurate diagnosis down from five days to forty-eight hours. Not only would doctors receive the test results faster, said Chaudhry, but also the improved accuracy for diseases such as mesothelioma would help a great deal with early detection of the disease. The agreement allows for SRL to send samples to Rosetta's labs in blocks of a specially formulated type of paraffin. Rosetta then uses the miRviewTM meso test to determine if the sample has the genetic markers that signify the presence of mesothelioma.
Dr. Chaudhry also stated that the new idea that microRNA can be used to distinguish cancer cases is quickly becoming recognized in the cancer research community over the last ten years. With regard to these discoveries, Dr. Chaudhry's firm has created an important relationship with Rosetta Genomics in order to provide the first diagnostic tests using microRNA for the welfare of patients in this part of the world.
In addition to the miRviewTM meso test, Dr Chaudhry also announced that two other tests would be made available through the distribution agreement with Rosetta. One of these tests, called "miRviewTM squamous", helps doctors tell the difference between squamous and non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Until recently, oncologists did not have accurate, standardized tests that allowed them to differentiate between the two forms of the disease. The other test, called "miRviewTM mets", allows doctors to determine the original site of a cancer that has metastasized. Since the best way to tread a metastasized cancer is at its primary source, the miRviewTM mets test will help doctors determine the proper treatment method depending on that source.
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wife Vows to Continue to Fight for Mesothelioma Cure
Shelly Kozicki continues her fight for a mesothelioma cure and for a ban on asbestos after her husband Craig Kozicki lost his 11 year battle to the deadly cancer on April 1, 2009. While helping her husband beat peritoneal mesothelioma, Shelly dedicated her time to learning as much as she could about the causes and treatments for mesothelioma, then became an advocate and fundraiser to find a cure for the cancer.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma can affect the lungs, the heart or the abdomen. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects less than 10% of mesothelioma patients, and develops in the abdomen in the mesothelial cells that form a layer called the peritoneum. Like all types of mesothelioma, there is no known cure for the disease.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Craig Kozicki and his wife Shelly were devastated when Craig was diagnosed in 1998 at the age of 42 with mesothelioma. Craig chose an aggressive, tri-modal treatment approach offered by Dr. Taub and Dr. Chabot at the Columbia Presbyterian Cancer Center in New York City. Craig underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation in an effort to increase his survival rate. Although met with various setbacks throughout his years of treatment, Craig was able to return to work full-time, enjoy various sports including golf, and continue a normal life with his family including taking vacations and even walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding.
Seeing firsthand the pain and suffering caused by mesothelioma, the Kozickis became activists for mesothelioma victims and for halting the use of asbestos in the United States so future generations will not have to be concerned with developing mesothelioma. Craig challenged his physicians with his treatment with experimental surgeries, and newly devised chemotherapy cocktails – all the while inspiring other patients to fight the disease. Craig continued to share his story as a long-term mesothelioma cancer survivor throughout his 11 year battle.
Partnership with Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
Shelly and Craig joined the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) where Shelly found an organization that she could support and lean on while she began to urge the government to ban asbestos in the United States, and to increase the research towards finding a cure.
Shelly became MARF’s most effective volunteer fundraiser. Through her efforts she raised $100,000 that funded a federal government researcher at the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Ho, funded by the "Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation Grant in Honor of Craig Kozicki" has had early success focusing on developing antibodies to fight the cancer.
Volunteers of the Year
Shelly and Craig were named the 2009 MARF volunteers of the year. Shelly attended the MARF Symposium in Washington, D.C., and accepted the award for herself, and posthumously, for her husband. During her acceptance speech Shelly vowed to continue to fund additional grants to continue the research effort. She then challenged the attendees to support the fundraising effort resulting in over $100,000being raised during the event. That is the first time a plea for funding has ever been made at the Symposium.
Shelly, along with her family and friends, continue to reach out to the public through a blog and through various fundraising efforts including 5K runs. One is being held on Mesothelioma Awareness Day on September 26th. In addition, donations can be made directly to MARF in memory of Craig Kozicki. Shelly said she promised Craig that she "would continue to fight for what is right…And that is finding a cure and stopping the importing of asbestos into the US.”
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma can affect the lungs, the heart or the abdomen. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects less than 10% of mesothelioma patients, and develops in the abdomen in the mesothelial cells that form a layer called the peritoneum. Like all types of mesothelioma, there is no known cure for the disease.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Craig Kozicki and his wife Shelly were devastated when Craig was diagnosed in 1998 at the age of 42 with mesothelioma. Craig chose an aggressive, tri-modal treatment approach offered by Dr. Taub and Dr. Chabot at the Columbia Presbyterian Cancer Center in New York City. Craig underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation in an effort to increase his survival rate. Although met with various setbacks throughout his years of treatment, Craig was able to return to work full-time, enjoy various sports including golf, and continue a normal life with his family including taking vacations and even walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding.
Seeing firsthand the pain and suffering caused by mesothelioma, the Kozickis became activists for mesothelioma victims and for halting the use of asbestos in the United States so future generations will not have to be concerned with developing mesothelioma. Craig challenged his physicians with his treatment with experimental surgeries, and newly devised chemotherapy cocktails – all the while inspiring other patients to fight the disease. Craig continued to share his story as a long-term mesothelioma cancer survivor throughout his 11 year battle.
Partnership with Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
Shelly and Craig joined the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) where Shelly found an organization that she could support and lean on while she began to urge the government to ban asbestos in the United States, and to increase the research towards finding a cure.
Shelly became MARF’s most effective volunteer fundraiser. Through her efforts she raised $100,000 that funded a federal government researcher at the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Ho, funded by the "Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation Grant in Honor of Craig Kozicki" has had early success focusing on developing antibodies to fight the cancer.
Volunteers of the Year
Shelly and Craig were named the 2009 MARF volunteers of the year. Shelly attended the MARF Symposium in Washington, D.C., and accepted the award for herself, and posthumously, for her husband. During her acceptance speech Shelly vowed to continue to fund additional grants to continue the research effort. She then challenged the attendees to support the fundraising effort resulting in over $100,000being raised during the event. That is the first time a plea for funding has ever been made at the Symposium.
Shelly, along with her family and friends, continue to reach out to the public through a blog and through various fundraising efforts including 5K runs. One is being held on Mesothelioma Awareness Day on September 26th. In addition, donations can be made directly to MARF in memory of Craig Kozicki. Shelly said she promised Craig that she "would continue to fight for what is right…And that is finding a cure and stopping the importing of asbestos into the US.”
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