• Biospecimen SolutionsPrecision Value & HealthCareers
    P_ForMedicine_no_tag_RGBP_ForMedicine_no_tag_RGBP_ForMedicine_no_tag_RGBP_ForMedicine_no_tag_RGB
    • Clinical
      Trial Services
        • Overview
            • Oncology Clinical TrialsImage

              Oncology Clinical Trials


              Through 20+ years running successful oncology trials, we’ve developed a unique blend of proprietary technologies, flexible processes, and creative problem solving abilities that advance even the most challenging clinical development programs.

              • Rare & Orphan DiseaseImage

                Rare & Orphan Disease


                With experience built on 150+ orphan disease projects covering 80+ rare diseases, we know how to anticipate logistical and regulatory obstacles and craft bold solutions that drive rare disease development programs.

        • Global Clinical Trial Support –
            • North & South America –
              • Oncology Clinical TrialsImage

                Oncology Clinical Trials


                Through 20+ years running successful oncology trials, we’ve developed a unique blend of proprietary technologies, flexible processes, and creative problem solving abilities that advance even the most challenging clinical development programs.

            • Europe –
              • Oncology Clinical TrialsImage

                Oncology Clinical Trials


                Through 20+ years running successful oncology trials, we’ve developed a unique blend of proprietary technologies, flexible processes, and creative problem solving abilities that advance even the most challenging clinical development programs.

            • APAC –
              • Oncology Clinical TrialsImage

                Oncology Clinical Trials


                Through 20+ years running successful oncology trials, we’ve developed a unique blend of proprietary technologies, flexible processes, and creative problem solving abilities that advance even the most challenging clinical development programs.

        • Clinical Trial Management –
            • Study Start-up & Feasibility –
              • Oncology Clinical TrialsImage

                Oncology Clinical Trials


                Through 20+ years running successful oncology trials, we’ve developed a unique blend of proprietary technologies, flexible processes, and creative problem solving abilities that advance even the most challenging clinical development programs.

            • Project Management –
            • Patient Recruitment –
            • Personalized Clinical Trial Operations –
            • Biometrics –
            • Medical & Safety Monitoring –
            • Clinical Data Management –
            • Medical Writing –
        • Clinical Development Strategy –
            • Clinical Development Planning –
              • Oncology Clinical TrialsImage

                Oncology Clinical Trials


                Through 20+ years running successful oncology trials, we’ve developed a unique blend of proprietary technologies, flexible processes, and creative problem solving abilities that advance even the most challenging clinical development programs.

            • Biomarker Strategies –
            • Cell & Gene Therapy Strategies –
            • CDx Regulatory and Market Access –
        • Clinical Trial Design –
            • Basket & Umbrella Trials –
              • Oncology Clinical TrialsImage

                Oncology Clinical Trials


                Through 20+ years running successful oncology trials, we’ve developed a unique blend of proprietary technologies, flexible processes, and creative problem solving abilities that advance even the most challenging clinical development programs.

            • Biomarker Clinical Trials –
            • Master Protocol Trials –
            • Decentralized Clinical Trials
        • Biostatistics –
            • Statistical Consulting –
              • Oncology Clinical TrialsImage

                Oncology Clinical Trials


                Through 20+ years running successful oncology trials, we’ve developed a unique blend of proprietary technologies, flexible processes, and creative problem solving abilities that advance even the most challenging clinical development programs.

            • Study Design –
            • Data Monitoring Committees –
            • CDISC Programming and Documentation –
            • eCTD Submissions –
        • Central Lab Services –
            • Clinical Specimen Kitting –
              • Oncology Clinical TrialsImage

                Oncology Clinical Trials


                Through 20+ years running successful oncology trials, we’ve developed a unique blend of proprietary technologies, flexible processes, and creative problem solving abilities that advance even the most challenging clinical development programs.

            • Sample Processing –
            • Global Specimen Logistics and Biostorage –
            • Biospecimen Data Services –
            • Precision Lab e-Portal –
            • Virtual Sample Inventory Management –
        • Training
            • Oncology Clinical TrialsImage

              Oncology Clinical Trials


              Through 20+ years running successful oncology trials, we’ve developed a unique blend of proprietary technologies, flexible processes, and creative problem solving abilities that advance even the most challenging clinical development programs.

              • Rare & Orphan DiseaseImage

                Rare & Orphan Disease


                With experience built on 150+ orphan disease projects covering 80+ rare diseases, we know how to anticipate logistical and regulatory obstacles and craft bold solutions that drive rare disease development programs.

    • Lab
      Services
        • Central Lab Services –
            • Clinical Specimen Kitting –
              • Oncology Clinical TrialsImage

                Oncology Clinical Trials


                Through 20+ years running successful oncology trials, we’ve developed a unique blend of proprietary technologies, flexible processes, and creative problem solving abilities that advance even the most challenging clinical development programs.

            • Sample Processing –
            • Global Specimen Logistics and Biostorage –
            • Biospecimen Data Services –
            • Precision Lab e-Portal –
            • Virtual Sample Inventory Management –
        • Specialty Lab Services Overview –
            • Immune MonitoringImage

              Immune Monitoring


              Leverage sophisticated immune monitoring approaches, including flow cytometry, Epiontis ID immune cell phenotyping, and cytokine profiling, to characterize the immune cells in your samples and understand their impact on patient biology.

              • Tissue & Liquid BiopsyImage

                Tissue and Liquid Biopsy


                Obtain a detailed molecular view into patient biology with a range of tissue and liquid biopsy technologies, including our proprietary ApoStream platform which can isolate and enrich circulating tumor cells for downstream analysis.

        • EU Contract Research Organization –
        • Immune Monitoring –
            • Immune Monitoring by Flow Cytometry –
              • Immune MonitoringImage

                Immune Monitoring


                Leverage sophisticated immune monitoring approaches, including flow cytometry, Epiontis ID immune cell phenotyping, and cytokine profiling, to characterize the immune cells in your samples and understand their impact on patient biology.

            • Immune Cell Phenotyping by Epiontis ID –
            • Cytokine Profiling –
            • Gene Expression Profiling –
            • ELISpot and FluoroSpot –
            • Custom Assays –
        • Flow Cytometry –
            • Immune MonitoringImage

              Immune Monitoring


              Leverage sophisticated immune monitoring approaches, including flow cytometry, Epiontis ID immune cell phenotyping, and cytokine profiling, to characterize the immune cells in your samples and understand their impact on patient biology.

              • Tissue & Liquid BiopsyImage

                Tissue and Liquid Biopsy


                Obtain a detailed molecular view into patient biology with a range of tissue and liquid biopsy technologies, including our proprietary ApoStream platform which can isolate and enrich circulating tumor cells for downstream analysis.

        • Genomics –
            • NanoString Assays –
              • Immune MonitoringImage

                Immune Monitoring


                Leverage sophisticated immune monitoring approaches, including flow cytometry, Epiontis ID immune cell phenotyping, and cytokine profiling, to characterize the immune cells in your samples and understand their impact on patient biology.

            • ddPCR –
            • qPCR –
            • NGS –
            • Fluorescence In Situ Hybridisation (FISH) / ISH –
        • Tissue & Liquid Biopsy –
            • ApoStream – CTC and Rare Cell Isolation for Liquid Biopsy
              • Immune MonitoringImage

                Immune Monitoring


                Leverage sophisticated immune monitoring approaches, including flow cytometry, Epiontis ID immune cell phenotyping, and cytokine profiling, to characterize the immune cells in your samples and understand their impact on patient biology.

            • CTC / cfDNA / Exosome Analysis –
            • Multiplex Immunofluorescence –
            • Immunohistochemistry –
            • Fluorescence In Situ Hybridisation (FISH) / ISH
            • Pathology Services –
            • NanoString Assays
        • Bioanalytical Testing –
            • Immunogenicity Testing –
              • Immune MonitoringImage

                Immune Monitoring


                Leverage sophisticated immune monitoring approaches, including flow cytometry, Epiontis ID immune cell phenotyping, and cytokine profiling, to characterize the immune cells in your samples and understand their impact on patient biology.

            • PK Assays –
            • ADA Assays –
            • MesoScale Discovery (MSD) Assays –
            • Quanterix SIMOA –
            • ELISA
        • Cytokine Analysis –
            • ELISA –
              • Immune MonitoringImage

                Immune Monitoring


                Leverage sophisticated immune monitoring approaches, including flow cytometry, Epiontis ID immune cell phenotyping, and cytokine profiling, to characterize the immune cells in your samples and understand their impact on patient biology.

            • MesoScale Discovery (MSD) Assays
            • Luminex –
            • Quanterix SIMOA
        • Preclinical Target and Biomarker Validation –
            • Cell Based Assays –
            • Target Expression – XpressWay Profiles –
            • Tissue Cross-Reactivity –
            • Fluorescence In Situ Hybridisation (FISH) / ISH –
            • Multiplex Immunofluorescence –
            • Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
        • Biospecimens
            • Immune MonitoringImage

              Immune Monitoring


              Leverage sophisticated immune monitoring approaches, including flow cytometry, Epiontis ID immune cell phenotyping, and cytokine profiling, to characterize the immune cells in your samples and understand their impact on patient biology.

              • Tissue & Liquid BiopsyImage

                Tissue and Liquid Biopsy


                Obtain a detailed molecular view into patient biology with a range of tissue and liquid biopsy technologies, including our proprietary ApoStream platform which can isolate and enrich circulating tumor cells for downstream analysis.

    • Data
      Sciences
        • Overview
            • BiostatisticsImage

              Biostatistics


              Seasoned biostatisticians and statistical programmers support every phase of your trial, from study design for small, rare disease trials to regulatory submissions, all backed by meticulous documentation.

              • Computational BiologyImage

                Computational Biology


                Domain experts from our QuartzBio team utilize integrated and harmonized data and tailored AI solutions to drive preclinical and clinical development, including patient stratification, signature development, predictive modeling of drug response, and MOA characterization.

        • Biostatistics
        • Clinical Data Management
        • Biometrics
        • QuartzBio –
            • Biomarker Data Management –
              • BiostatisticsImage

                Biostatistics


                Seasoned biostatisticians and statistical programmers support every phase of your trial, from study design for small, rare disease trials to regulatory submissions, all backed by meticulous documentation.

            • Virtual Sample Inventory Management –
    • Diagnostics
      & CDx
        • IVD and CDx Regulatory Affairs Consulting –
          • spevialty_labs_slice-300×54Image

            Specialty Lab Services


            Our comprehensive approach starts with a foundation of expertise in key biomaker discovery and analysis methods such as immune monitoring, genomics, and bioanalysis.

        • COVID-19 & Viral Panel Assays –
          • spevialty_labs_slice-300×54Image

            Specialty Lab Services


            Our comprehensive approach starts with a foundation of expertise in key biomaker discovery and analysis methods such as immune monitoring, genomics, and bioanalysis.

        • Biospecimens Solutions 
          • spevialty_labs_slice-300×54Image

            Specialty Lab Services


            Our comprehensive approach starts with a foundation of expertise in key biomaker discovery and analysis methods such as immune monitoring, genomics, and bioanalysis.

        • Diagnostic Market Access Services –
          • spevialty_labs_slice-300×54Image

            Specialty Lab Services


            Our comprehensive approach starts with a foundation of expertise in key biomaker discovery and analysis methods such as immune monitoring, genomics, and bioanalysis.

        • Companion Diagnostics
    • Therapeutic
      Areas
        • Overview
            • By Specialty Area
              • Global-clinical-trial-support-2Image

                Global Clinical Trial Support


                Sample processing labs, clinical trial sites and offices in five continents provide the clinical reach and scale to manage complex global programs.

            • Oncology and Immuno-Oncology
              • Oncology Clinical Trials
            • Rare & Orphan Disease
              • Global-clinical-trial-support-2Image

                Global Clinical Trial Support


                Sample processing labs, clinical trial sites and offices in five continents provide the clinical reach and scale to manage complex global programs.

            • Cell & Gene Therapy
              • Cell Therapy
              • Gene Therapy
              • Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing
            • CNS & Neuroscience
              • Global-clinical-trial-support-2Image

                Global Clinical Trial Support


                Sample processing labs, clinical trial sites and offices in five continents provide the clinical reach and scale to manage complex global programs.

            • COVID-19
            • AutoImmune & Allergy
            • Pediatric
        • By Research Phase
        • Preclinical Development –
        • Early Phase Trials (I-IIa) –
        • Late Phase Trials (IIb-III) –
    • News &
      Insights
        • Blog –
            • iStock-945738094Image

              Blog


              Industry trends and best practices from Precision experts

              • shutterstock_1033743346Image

                Resources


                A searchable hub featuring the latest Precision case studies, white papers, capabilities brochures and more.

        • Resources –
        • Thought Leadership –
        • News –
            • iStock-945738094Image

              Blog


              Industry trends and best practices from Precision experts

              • shutterstock_1033743346Image

                Resources


                A searchable hub featuring the latest Precision case studies, white papers, capabilities brochures and more.

        • Events –
            • iStock-945738094Image

              Blog


              Industry trends and best practices from Precision experts

              • shutterstock_1033743346Image

                Resources


                A searchable hub featuring the latest Precision case studies, white papers, capabilities brochures and more.

    • About
      Us
        • Our Passion –
            • Patient RecruitmentImage

              Our Passion


              What we do, why we do it and the principles that guide us every day.

              • meet-our-peopleImage

                Meet Our People


                We are devoted professionals with deep expertise in translational science, clinical trials and data sciences.

        • Meet Our People –
        • Careers
        • Regulatory Information –
            • Patient RecruitmentImage

              Our Passion


              What we do, why we do it and the principles that guide us every day.

              • meet-our-peopleImage

                Meet Our People


                We are devoted professionals with deep expertise in translational science, clinical trials and data sciences.

    • Contact
      Us
    • Home
    • News
    • New Technology Could Detect Liver Cancer from a Simple Blood Sample

    New Technology Could Detect Liver Cancer from a Simple Blood Sample

    New technology could detect liver cancer from a simple blood sample Results from VCU Massey Cancer Center study suggest that ApoCell’s ApoStream® device effectively collects circulating liver cancer cells, has potential to advance diagnosis and treatment of the disease

    Richmond, Va. – (March 30, 2012) – New technology from ApoCell, Inc. that can detect liver cancer cells circulating in a patient’s bloodstream may remove the need for potentially dangerous liver biopsies, be used as a screening tool and, ultimately, speed up drug development, according to a pilot study presented this week by Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Massey Cancer Center researcher Andrew Poklepovic, M.D., at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Chicago, IL.

    Poklepovic, an oncologist at VCU Massey in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care and an assistant professor of internal medicine at VCU School of Medicine , examined ApoCell’s ApoStream™ dielectrophoretic cell separation system in 10 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or liver cancer. The study’s results showed that the device could effectively collect circulating tumor cells (CTC) from patients while preserving the cells for analysis outside of the body.

    “This is the first time circulating liver cancer cells have been collected without relying on magnetic beads to attach to a protein on the cell’s surface,” says Dr. Poklepovic. “While we tested the device in liver cancer, theoretically it could work in a number of different cancers.”

    ApoCell’s capture technique relies on differences in electrical charges between cancer cells and normal blood cells. Due to the difference in charges, cancer cells are attracted to an electrical frequency emanating from a plate in the device whereas blood cells are repulsed. Alternative capture techniques rely on antibodies attached to magnetic beads that bind to epithelial cellular adhesion molecules (EpCAM) on the cancer cells. These alternatives are limited to collecting cancer cells that express significant amounts of EpCAM, which is expressed in less than a third of all HCC tumors. Additionally, the tumor cells are fixed in the alternatives’ capture process and cannot be manipulated after they are collected.

    In Poklepovic’s study, different types of liver cancer cells were collected from the same patient, suggesting differences within the tumor cells that were previously unknown. The device may have also captured cells that have undergone epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), which is a process thought to be induced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy that increases the cells’ resistance to these treatments.

    “By analyzing the collected cells, we can monitor the patient’s response to treatment, view genetic changes within the cancer and obtain new insight into the diagnosis and evaluation of each patient’s unique disease,” says Poklepovic. “This technology opens the door to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of liver cancer.”

    Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the world, and there is currently only one FDA approved drug – sorafenib – that has been shown to extend survival. Reliable CTC capture techniques could provide a non-invasive way to harvest liver cancer cells, potentially speeding up the development of new drugs.

    VCU Massey Cancer Center is already using this technology to evaluate liver cancer cells’ response to a new treatment, combining sorafenib with another anti-cancer drug, vorinostat. There are also studies underway in prostate cancer.

    Moving forward, Poklepovic plans to test the ApoCell device on additional samples and utilize genetic analyses to better understand the different types of cancer cells collected using this technique.

    News directors: Broadcast access to VCU Massey Cancer Center experts is available through VideoLink ReadyCam. ReadyCam transmits video and audio via fiber optics through a system that is routed to your newsroom. To schedule a live or taped interview, contact John Wallace, (804) 628-1550.

    About VCU Massey Cancer Center: VCU Massey Cancer Center is one of only 66 National Cancer Institute-designated institutions in the country that leads and shapes America’s cancer research efforts. Working with all kinds of cancers, the Center conducts basic, translational and clinical cancer research, provides state-of-the-art treatments and clinical trials, and promotes cancer prevention and education. Since 1974, Massey has served as an internationally recognized center of excellence. It has one of the largest offerings of clinical trials in Virginia and serves patients in Richmond and in four satellite locations. Its 1,000 researchers, clinicians and staff members are dedicated to improving the quality of human life by developing and delivering effective means to prevent, control and ultimately cure cancer. Visit Massey online at www.massey.vcu.edu or call 877-4-MASSEY for more information.

    About VCU and the VCU Medical Center: Virginia Commonwealth University is a major, urban public research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research. Located on two downtown campuses in Richmond, VCU enrolls more than 31,000 students in 211 certificate and degree programs in the arts, sciences and humanities. Sixty-nine of the programs are unique in Virginia, many of them crossing the disciplines of VCU’s 13 schools and one college. MCV Hospitals and the health sciences schools of Virginia Commonwealth University compose the VCU Medical Center, one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. For more, see www.vcu.edu.

    About ApoCell, Inc.

    Based in Houston, Texas, ApoCell, Inc. is a privately-held specialty clinical research company. Founded in 2004, the firm is a leader in molecular biomarker detection and analysis and leverages its expertise in the areas of oncology, diabetes, molecular diagnostics and drug development to measure biomarker signatures in clinical trial subjects. The company’s proprietary methods provide early proof of mechanism of action and monitor the effectiveness of various types of drugs by measuring biomarker expression patterns in biopsies, blood and rare cell types. The company’s facilities are CLIA-certified and compliant with applicable FDA regulations. Since inception, the company has participated in over 120 Phase I, II, and III clinical cancer drug trials for more than 80 sponsor clients worldwide. In 2011, the firm was named to the Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest Growing Companies. More information is available at apocell.com.

    Share

    Precision for Medicine is part of the Precision Medicine Group, an integrated team of experts that extends Precision for Medicine’s therapeutic development capabilities beyond approval and into launch strategies, marketing communication, and payer insights. As one company, the Precision Medicine Group helps pharmaceutical and life-sciences clients conquer product development and commercialization challenges in a rapidly evolving environment.

    Visit the website
    Clinical Trial Services
    • Overview
    • Global Clinical Trial Support
    • Clinical Trial Management
    • Clinical Development Strategy
    • Clinical Trial Design
    • Biostatistics
    • Clinical Sample Management
    • Clinical Research Organization
    Specialty Lab Services
    • Overview
    • Immune Monitoring
    • Flow Cytometry
    • Genomics
    • Tissue & Liquid Biopsy
    • Bioanalytical Testing
    • Cytokine Analysis
    • Biospecimens
    • Sample Processing
    • Global Specimen Transport & Biostorage
    • Contract Research Organization
    • Bioanalysis
    • Neutralizing Antibody (NAb) Assays
    • PBMC Processing
    Data Sciences
    • Overview
    • Biostatistics
    • Clinical Data Management
    • Biometrics
    • QuartzBio
    • Virtual Sample Inventory Management
    Therapeutic Expertise
    • Overview
    • Preclinical Development
    • Early Phase Trials (I-IIa)
    • Late Phase Trials (IIb-III)
    • Oncology and Immuno-Oncology
    • Rare & Orphan Disease
    • Cell & Gene Therapy
    • Neurology
    • COVID-19
    • Autoimmune & Allergy
    • Pediatric
    • Companion Diagnostics
    About Us
    • Our Passion
    • Meet Our People
    • Careers
    • ESG Policy
    • Regulatory Information

    News & Insights
    • Publications
    • Case Studies
    • Thought Leadership
    • News
    • Events
    © 2023 Precision Medicine Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy    GDPR