Single-Cell Genomic Analysis of Blood Cancers to be Highlighted at American Society of Hematology Meeting

BOLOGNA, Italy and HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa., Nov. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Menarini Silicon Biosystems announced today that new hem-oncology research utilizing the company's DEPArraytm single-cell isolation technology will be featured at the upcoming scientific meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

In two separate studies, the DEPArray NxT system was used for the detection, isolation and genetic characterization of single cells in two of the primary hematological malignancies - classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) and multiple myeloma, respectively.

"For classic Hodgkin Lymphoma, genomic analysis of pure tumor cells is crucial for identifying patients for whom immunotherapy will be truly beneficial. However, isolating these cells is extremely challenging, as they are typically present in a very small percentage with respect to normal cells," said corresponding author Nicolo Manaresi. "Our goal with this research was to identify a protocol utilizing the automated workflow of the DEPArray technology to disaggregate these cells and perform genomic analysis at the single-cell level, in a way that can be easily implemented for patient selection as well as research." 

The DEPArray System enables isolation of individual, intact cells, allowing researchers to study the biological significance of rare cells in disease development, progression, and therapeutic response. It is the only image-based sorting and isolation platform that delivers pure cells to facilitate molecular analyses on live or fixed cells with single-cell precision.

"Single cell sorting of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) Cells by the DEPArray NxT and copy number alteration profiles using our Ampli1tm LowPass kits offers a valuable tool to uncover genetic alterations," said Bob Roda, President and CEO of Menarini Silicon Biosystems Inc., suppliers of the DEPArray NxT System and the Ampli1 range of kits. "This analysis of pure HRS could be helpful for patient stratification and the adoption of immune therapy."

Details for the DEPArray-related presentation at ASH and its authors are:

Saturday, December 1

Session: 621. Lymphoma?Genetic/Epigenetic Biology: Poster I

Title: Unravel Inter-Tumor and Intra-Tumor Heterogeneity of Digitally Sorted Single Hodgkin and Reed Sternberg Cells Using Genome-Wide Copy Number Profiling

Authors: Chiara Mangano, Petrini Edoardo, Marianna Garonzi, Rossana Lanzellotto, Francesca Marzia Papadopulos, Chiara Bolognesi, Genny Buson, Alberto Ferrarini, Claudio Forcato, Giovanni Martinelli, Francesca Fontana, Michela Ceccolini, Francesco Fabbri, Pietro Fici,Giulia Gallerani, Cecilia Simonelli, Gianni Medoro, and Nicolò Manaresi

Location: San Diego Convention Center, Hall GH

Time: 6:15-8:15 p.m.

The additional study, "A High-Throughput Workflow for the Detection, Isolation and Genomic Analysis of Single Circulating Multiple Myeloma Cells" (Publication Number #5574) will be published online in the annual ASH abstract supplemental issue of Blood.

The DEPArray System can analyze samples containing from one to tens of thousands of cells and is compatible with a wide variety of rare cell suspensions, including live and fixed cells; enriched cells; and samples with small cell loads, such as fine needle aspirates and tissue biopsies. It is unique in combining imaging technologies with the ability to manipulate and recover individual, viable rare cells from a heterogeneous sample. This technology is enabling advances in areas such as oncology research, drug response and fetal cell biology.

Starting from a minute tumor biopsy, it can isolate and recover individual cells or groups of tumor cells, allowing a complete understanding of tumor biology and a medical decision to apply the most effective treatment. Moreover, the technology allows isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) ? cancer cells that escape from the primary tumor and enter the blood to spread elsewhere in the body. These cells are important to identify and characterize, especially in those patients where it is very difficult to reach the primary tumor to obtain a tissue biopsy. CTC analysis is useful in predicting the severity and course of the disease and the response to drug treatment.

The 60th annual ASH Meeting and Exposition will be held at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California, December 1-4, 2018.

About Menarini Silicon Biosystems

Menarini Silicon Biosystems, based in Bologna, Italy, and Huntingdon Valley (PA), USA, develops technologies and products that help researchers understand the biological complexity of disease through the study of single cells. The company manufactures and markets the DEPArray NxT, the only image-based digital cell-sorting and isolation platform that enables clinical researchers to conduct molecular analyses on live or fixed cells with single-cell precision. In 2017 Menarini Silicon Biosystems purchased all the assets and relevant business related to the CellSearch® Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) System. The integration of CellSearch and DEPArray provides an end-to-end workflow solution* for the enumeration, isolation, and molecular characterization of CTCs from a simple blood test in the clinical research setting. This will help drive the clinical utility and correlation of CTCs with the effectiveness of specific therapies. Menarini Silicon Biosystems is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Menarini Group, a multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostics company headquartered in Florence, Italy, with a heritage of over 130 years and over 17,000 employees in more than 100 countries.

*The workflow described is for research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. The performance characteristics and safety and effectiveness of the workflow have not been established and are not cleared or approved by the FDA.

Contact: Liz Dowling, (415) 388-2794
Dowling & Dennis PR
[email protected]

SOURCE Menarini Silicon Biosystems