Ovarian
cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecological cancer and the fifth
leading cause of cancer mortality in women. Five-year survival rates diminish
drastically as the disease progresses, and late-stage detection offers patients
a dim prognosis. On the whole, less than 40% of cases result in a cure. Sixty
percent of cases relapse after 24 months due to platinum therapy resistance.
Early-stage diagnosis is difficult for the disease, but it is a critical factor
for survival. Recent technological advancements in DNA sequencing and
microarray-based genetic analysis offer the potential for new discoveries that
can lead to a revolution in cancer therapy, providing hope for earlier
detection and a brighter prognosis.
As a leading provider of integrated solutions that advance the understanding of genetics and health, Illumina is at the forefront of this movement. Our ground-breaking next-generation sequencing technology is transforming genetic research, enabling scientists to peer into the human genome, epigenome, and transcriptome at a depth and resolution that were previously unachievable. With such a wealth of genetic information, researchers are able to compare data across multiple individuals and populations to identify genetic associations to diseases. As the technology advances, it is becoming faster, cheaper, and more accessible, enabling discoveries that can translate into powerful cancer diagnostic tools.
Illumina's breadth of genetic analysis technologies uniquely positions us to successfully discover, develop, and market innovative tools for cancer diagnostics. Illumina's Cancer Discovery Initiative aims to produce cutting-edge diagnostic tools through application of our core technologies on oncology discovery, validation, and eventual product development. As an entry point for this initiative, we have chosen to target ovarian cancer. We chose ovarian cancer because the ability to identify early biomarkers of the disease directly impacts a successful patient outcome, making it an area where Illumina technology can make a difference. By working with groups such as the Clearity Foundation, we can help to drastically improve patient care.
The
Illumina Cancer Initiative will initially focus on two goals:
1.
Identify early detection biomarkers for at-risk populations
2.
Identify markers that predict which patients will respond to Platinum therapy
Illumina
is partnering with cancer research institutions throughout the multi-stage
initiative. We have already sequenced the genomes, methylomes, and
transcriptomes of 25 tumor and 25 normal paired specimens in an effort to
identify disease-associated markers. In the next stage, identified markers will
be validated using Illumina's BeadArray® technology. If these markers
prove successful, services may be initially offered in Illumina's CLIA
laboratory. Ultimately we hope to deploy novel diagnostics on Illumina's
BeadXpress®platform for prospective trials and regulatory
clearance in the U.S. and Europe.
Research
efforts like those taking place at Illumina can take years to translate into a
diagnostic test. In the meantime, each of us can join the cause against ovarian
cancer by spreading awareness about the disease. Illumina is doing its part by
partnering with groups such as the Clearity Foundation to encourage patients,
physicians, and researchers to learn more and work together to change the face
of this life-taking disease.
