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Urine Exosomes Found to Contain Key Prostate Cancer Genetic Markers

NEW YORK, May 13th, 2009 – Exosome Diagnostics, Inc. today announced discoveries published in the British Journal of Cancer Research that two biomarkers for prostate cancer, TMPRSS2:ERG and PCA3, can be detected from exosomes in the urine.  This information could help doctors decide which prostate cancers are aggressive and require rapid treatment.

Up until now, researchers have used levels of proteins, like prostate specific antigen (PSA), produced by cancer cells to try to spot the aggressive tumors.

This new approach analyses ribonucleic acids or “RNA” – which is involved in the production of proteins like PSA – to take a step further back and find out which genes have gone wrong inside the cancer. Different genes are switched on and off in aggressive and dormant prostate cancers.

Dr Jonas Nilsson, lead author based at the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam, said: “We hope that this innovative approach to studying prostate cancer will reveal new biomarkers for aggressive tumors. Tumor-derived RNA is preserved in these capsules and gives us an insight into the genetics of an individual’s tumor.”

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: “This technique is a fresh view on an old problem and could really help scientists find that elusive biomarker. It’s still unclear what the best treatment approach is for early prostate cancer, so it’s important we find answers to this as soon as possible”.

About Exosome Diagnostics
Exosome Diagnostics is a developer of proprietary genetics-based diagnostic tests with applications in oncology.  The company’s core technology is based on the discovery that circulating nanovesicles called exosomes contain unique genetic markers that can be reliably harvested from blood and used diagnostically for cancers.  For more information, visit www.exosomedx.com.

Editor’s Note: Photograph is available on request