Validation of platelet based diagnostics of early cancer

Purpose and goal

The goal of the project was to validate biomarkers identified from platelets to be used in diagnostic assays for early diagnosis of aggressive cancers. At the end of the project a panel of biomarkers for ovarian cancer had been confirmed and based on that product development initiated. The ELISA product is halfway ready leaving two biomarkers to finally be converted to the ELISA format. A biomarker panel for early diagnosis of colorectal cancer is also developed. Next step here is a final confirmatory validation prior to start of product development.

Expected results and effects

The result of the project do present a good ground for the continued development of platelet-based diagnostic products for the early detection of cancer. This will now serve as a solid foundation for the company to do final development of the diagnostic products. During the project scientific publications covering platelet based biomarkers for ovarian and colorectal diagnosis have also been published together with our partners.

Planned approach and implementation

The project was performed using standard biomarker discovery based on proteomics and then converted to antibody based assays. 2D and 2D-DIGE was followed by MS identification and then moving on to Ab-based assay development. The Ab’s were tested using first western blot, then multiplex using Luminex and for final qualitative testing using DigiWest. Ab’s were then selected based on the DigiWest results and pairs were used for the final development of the sandwich assays. The specifications as well as the clinical samples were provided by the partnering hospitals.