Upstream Biosciences looks to patent prostate cancer biomarkers

By Angela McDaniels

Seattle, April 3 - Upstream Biosciences Inc. has completed the provisional patent filing of prostate cancer biomarkers that could be useful for determining patients with a genetic risk of developing prostate cancer, according to a company news release.

Upstream said it plans to use its prostate cancer genetic markers to develop diagnostic tests to complement the existing Prostate Cancer Antigen (PSA) screening method, the most common test for prostate cancer.

According to the National Institute of Cancer, the PSA test can fail to detect prostate cancer in some patients and lead to unnecessary biopsies for many others. Only 25% to 30% of men who have a biopsy due to elevated PSA levels actually have prostate cancer, according to the release.

Upstream said its diagnostic markers could decrease the number of unnecessary biopsies and increase the likelihood of early detection by identifying which patients have a genetic risk of developing prostate cancer.

Vancouver, B.C.-based Upstream Biosciences discovers, develops and licenses genetic-based diagnostics for cancer susceptibility and drug response.

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