OGT to launch cancer sequencing panel at ACGS

Oxford, UK – 29 April 2014. OGT, The Molecular Genetics Company, will launch its new SureSeq™ Solid Tumour Panel at the Association for Clinical Genetic Science (ACGS) meeting at Birmingham UK, on the 29-30^th April. Fully validated on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, the new 60-gene next generation sequencing (NGS) hybridisation-based enrichment panel offers researchers accurate and reliable solid tumour profiling for both known and novel variants.

The content of the panel has been defined by recognised cancer experts, covering key genes for a range of cancer types including breast, prostate, ovarian, lung and colorectal. All exons of these genes are fully covered, including mutation hotspots, enabling both detection and discovery of known and novel variants respectively.

The hybridisation-based SureSeq Solid Tumour Panel minimises PCR bias and duplications commonly associated with alternative enrichment methodologies, enabling greater run-to-run consistency. This is particularly important in situations where there is limited sample or where the ability to detect minor allele frequencies is required, such as in heterogeneous tumour samples. Such sample types require a highly uniform and sensitive enrichment and OGT’s expert bait design ensures this by providing efficient and improved uniformity of coverage of the targeted regions, enabling all variants to be called with maximum confidence.

Providing easy access to meaningful data, the SureSeq Solid Tumour Panel comes with OGT’s unique Variant Analysis Report, equipping researchers with the freedom to explore and retrospectively interrogate data with additional or new selection criteria, without the need for additional in-house bioinformatics resource. Using the report, data can be easily filtered by numerous parameters, including gene, depth of coverage, somatic variants and predicted effect on the protein. In addition, all variants are fully annotated with links to various databases.

Delegates of the ACGS meeting can find out more about the new panel in a talk by Dr Matthew Smith (West Midlands Regional Genetics Laboratory) titled “Developing a 60 gene somatic cancer capture panel for consolidated tumour profiling” at 12.20pm on 30^th April 2014.

About OGT

OGT, a Sysmex Group company, is a leading global provider of clinical and diagnostic genomic solutions that are created for scientists by scientists - including CytoCell^®, CytoSure^® and SureSeq™ ranges of FISH, microarray and NGS products. The company is dedicated to creating products that enable researchers and clinical decision makers to reach the right care decisions for each patient, every time. OGT strives to unlock the future of genetic clinical care with a commitment to working in partnership with its customers - not only by sharing its expertise of 25 years at the forefront of genetic endeavour, but also by working closely with scientists to understand their unique challenges, and to customise its approach to meet their exact needs. Dedicated to improving clinical care, OGT believes that through partnership—together—we’ll achieve more.

For more information on the Company, please visit our website at ogt.com

CytoSure^®, SureSeq™ and myProbes^®: For Research Use Only, not for use in diagnostic procedures. CytoCell: Some products may not be available in your region.

About Sysmex Corporation

Sysmex Corporation is a world leader in clinical laboratory systemization and solutions, including laboratory diagnostics, laboratory automation and clinical information systems. Serving customers for more than 50 years, Sysmex focuses on technological leadership in diagnostic science and information tools that make a difference in the health of people worldwide. The company is also exploring emerging opportunities in the life science field. Its R&D efforts focus on the development of high-value-added testing and diagnostic technologies that are innovative, original and optimize individual health. Sysmex also seeks to leverage its state-of-the-art technologies for cell, gene and protein analysis. The company, headquartered in Kobe, Japan, has subsidiaries in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, China and Asia Pacific and employs more than 9,000 employees worldwide. Sysmex Corporation is listed in the top tier of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

For more information about Sysmex Corporation and its affiliate companies, please visit www.sysmex.co.jp/en/.