Biocept And Rosetta Genomics Collaborate To Evaluate microRNAs From Circulating Tumor Cells

Biocept, Inc.

, a molecular oncology diagnostics company specializing in biomarker analysis of cell-free circulating tumor DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and Rosetta Genomics, Ltd.

, a leading molecular diagnostics company advancing microRNA-based diagnostics based on its proprietary microRNA platform technologies, today announced a collaboration that will combine both companies' platform technologies in an innovative approach to cancer diagnostics. The collaboration will utilize Biocept's patented microfluidic channel technology to capture CTCs and then apply Rosetta Genomics' technical expertise and proprietary methods to extract and analyze microRNA from these cells. The companies will test for markers currently offered by Rosetta as well as pursue new potential markers. This joint proof-of-concept study will initially seek to determine whether CTCs from lung cancers provide microRNA signatures similar to those previously demonstrated by Rosetta and in use clinically today from tissue sample testing performed through Rosetta's CLIA laboratory. Biocept's proprietary microfluidic channel technology will be utilized to capture CTCs in the blood. Rosetta Genomics will then deploy its proprietary RT-PCR platform to characterize microRNAs isolated from those CTCs. The goal of this project is to demonstrate proof-of-concept and determine opportunities for next steps in development of advanced diagnostics. This could include the development of next generation versions of certain current tests, which would then use CTCs from blood as "liquid biopsies" in lieu of current invasive approaches. With proof-of-concept data, the joint platform could be of value to pharmaceutical and biotech companies searching for a way to use liquid biopsies/CTCs along with microRNA profiling (and other downstream modalities like Next Generation Sequencing mutational profiles) to predict and monitor response to therapies. "Our ability to capture and release CTCs for further downstream analysis puts us in a unique position to partner with leading companies who have already developed proprietary biomarker signatures," said Michael Nall, President and CEO of Biocept. "The concept of looking at microRNAs from CTCs is something that we've had an interest in for some time and Rosetta Genomics, as a leader in this space, is well positioned to help us pursue this diagnostic innovation." Analysis of CTCs provides the ability to obtain genomic information from patients where tissue biopsies are not practical or possible. A simple blood draw allows the study of tumor cells in circulation on a real-time basis starting with the point-of-diagnosis and continuing throughout treatment. For example, this provides valuable insights when a patient's disease progresses while on therapy due to emerging resistance, thus allowing the clinician to potentially plot the optimal next course of treatment. MicroRNA analysis can provide unique insight into the biomarker profiles of these cells. Combining current and new microRNA profiles through the use of CTC capture could expand the role and utility of microRNA signatures in various solid tumor diseases. "By combining our existing expertise in the microRNA space with Biocept's expertise in CTCs, we are poised to expand our efforts from profiling and discovering biomarkers on tissue biopsies to now exploring options of using these same techniques in a liquid biopsy environment," said Ken Berlin, CEO of Rosetta Genomics.