AdnaTest EMT-2/StemCell

• Efficient isolation and detection of CTCs from whole blood
• Molecular characterization of CTCs
• High specificity and sensitivity
• Capturing of EMT and stem-like cells

The AdnaTest uses a two-step process (Select and Detect) to generate results within 5 hours (see figures “ AdnaTest workflow”). AdnaTest EMT-2/StemCellSelect enables the immunomagnetic enrichment of tumor cells from whole blood via epithelial- and tumor-associated antigens. Antibodies against epithelial- and tumor-associated antigens are conjugated to magnetic beads for labeling of tumor cells. Labeled cells are extracted by a magnetic particle concentrator (AdnaMag-L and AdnaMag-S), lysed and mRNA is then purified from these lysates (see figures “ AdnaTest Select – Immunomagnetic cell selection with multiple tumor-associated antibodies labeled to magnetic beads”). In the second step, the isolated mRNA is transcribed into cDNA and can be amplified using multiplex PCR (see figures “ AdnaTest Detect – Multiplex PCR of various cancer-associated tumor markers”). AdnaTest EMT-2/StemCellDetect contains Oligo (dT) 25-coated beads for the isolation of mRNA from the lysate of pre-enriched tumor cells. Reverse transcription results in cDNA that can subsequently be used as template for tumor cell detection and characterization by multiplex PCR. Multiplex PCR provides tumor-associated gene expression profiles for a variety of EMT tumor markers.

The Targets

TWIST
Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors have been implicated in cell lineage determination and differentiation. The protein encoded by this gene is a bHLH transcription factor and shares similarity with another bHLH transcription factor, Dermo1. It is highly expressed in placental tissue and in adult mesodermally-derived tissues. Twist binds to the E-box elements of the Akt2 promoter, enhancing its transcriptional activity. It's likely that this transcription factor is related to the EMT phenomenon in cancer cells.
Pi3K/Akt
Pi3K activates the Akt1 and Akt2 Ser/Thr kinase. Activated Akt is responsible for proliferation and has anti-apoptotic function (inhibition of caspase 9 activity). There are several possibilities that can cause the Pi3K/Akt (mTOR) signal cascade to become unregulated in cancer. One possibility is the loss of PTEN activity, which is a regulator of Pi3K that leads to a permanent activation of the pathway. Since the Pi3K/Akt pathway is also activated via tyrosine kinases it may be affected in case of EGFR overexpression/mutation and HER2 overexpression. Another activator is the IGF receptor, which has been described in breast cancer to potentially shortcut ER dependency for proliferation if overexpressed.
ALDH1
Utilizing in vitro and in vivo experimental systems, it was shown (Ginestier et al 2007) that normal and cancer human mammary epithelial cells with increased aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 activity (ALDH1) have stem/progenitor properties. Overexpression of ALDH1 in tissue of primary breast tumors correlates significantly with poor prognosis. In breast carcinomas, high ALDH1 activity leads to increased self-renewal and tumors that mimic the heterogeneity of the parental tumor.
AdnaTest EMT-2/StemCellDetect contains Oligo (dT)25-coated beads for the isolation of mRNA from the lysate of pre-enriched tumor cells. Reverse transcription results in cDNA, which is subsequently used as template for tumor cell detection and characterization by multiplex PCR. The PrimerMix EMT-1 allows the amplification of three EMT-related genes and one control gene. The PrimerMix StemCell amplifies ALDH1, which is accepted as tumor stem-cell marker. Breast cancer associated gene expression can be determined using the PrimerMix BreastDetect. Taken together the different primer-mixes generate the following fragments:

Optionally, the analysis of breast, colon, prostate and ovarian cancer-associated genes is possible. The PrimerMix Colon Detect allows the amplification of three tumor-associated antigens and one control gene. The primers generate fragments of the following sizes:

The PrimerMix Breast Detect allows the amplification of three tumor-associated antigens and one control gene. The primers generate fragments of the following sizes:

The PrimerMix Prostate Detect allows the amplification of three tumor-associated antigens and one control gene. The primers generate fragments of the following sizes:

Importantly, the AdnaTest is an open platform that allows the profiling of additional custom selected mRNA targets for comphrehensive biomarker discovery.

• Isolation of CTCs from whole human blood
• Molecular characterization of CTCs
• Biomarker discovery
• mRNA profiling
• Liquid biopsy