Proteome develops prostate cancer diagnostic test

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., Aug. 1 - Proteome Systems said it developed a diagnostic test for prostate cancer that identifies a prostate-specific glycoprotein that is linked to human carcinoma antigen (HCA).

The company said a diagnostic test that detects both the glycoprotein and the HCA modification will be highly specific for diagnosing prostate cancer using semen samples.

The current test for diagnosis of prostate cancer by elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood of men middle-aged and older is estimated to be only about 30% specific and thus gives a substantial number of false-positive results, the company said in a news release.

This means that elevated PSA levels do not necessarily result from prostate cancer. A normal PSA can also be misleading, with undetected prostate cancer able to grow and spread to other parts of the body, the release said.

HCA was discovered by Harvard Medical School and licensed by Proteome's partner, Egenix, Inc., as a biomarker for several types of malignant tissue tumors including, prostate, lung, breast and ovarian cancers.

HCA is over-expressed in prostate cancer tissue but is absent or minimally present in normal or benign, enlarged prostate tissue.

Correlation of HCA with prostate cancer required the identification of a prostate-specific protein carrying the cancer-specific HCA marker.

Proteome is a global diagnostics development company that has headquarters in Sydney, Australia.

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