Newswise — A new analytical test has been launched in the UK that provides sensitive, specific and efficient predictive analysis of a rare form of cancer from a simple urine sample.
The ACC steroid analysis service will be marketed by Birmingham-based AltaBioscience, which has an exclusive licence on this patented technology from the University of Birmingham.
The steroid profiling test is expected to improve diagnosis for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a highly aggressive type of cancer of the adrenal glands, which manufacture and control the level of steroid hormones in the body.
Early diagnosis is critical for people with ACC: there are few treatment options and the 5-year survival drops from 65% of those diagnosed in the early stages of disease to less than 10% of those diagnosed at the later stages1.
The test is a significant development on the current diagnostic procedures, which rely on CT/MRI imaging or tissue biopsy - both of which are time-consuming and costly, and rely on indicators that can be ambiguous. The new test accurately quantifies up to 32 steroid hormones and metabolites in urine, delivering a ‘hormone fingerprint’ which is then compared to a comprehensive database containing profiles from patients with benign and malignant adrenal disease.
This comparison with the reference database provides a detailed picture of urinary steroid metabolites profiles as biomarkers of Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma (ACC) resulting in a report detailing probability of malignancy. This test is a non-invasive analysis supporting clinicians in ACC diagnosis and quickly signposts the need for treatment.
The database was developed by Professors Wiebke Arlt and Paul Stewart from the University’s Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, who identified a set of urinary markers which can differentiate adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) from adrenocortical adenomas (ACA).
Professor Wiebke Arlt, from the University of Birmingham, said: “Urine steroid analysis delivers a detailed steroid fingerprint of adrenal tumours and can help determine whether the tumour is harmless or a cancer. This test has several advantages over existing methods, as it is easy, non-invasive and radiation-free. I am delighted that this test, developed in the University’s Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, is now available in the clinical setting for the earlier and more effective diagnosis of Adrenal Cancer.” Marion Peak, Director of Operations at Alta Bioscience commented: “Until now this test has only been available to researchers and clinical research organisations. However our urinary steroid analysis service, which includes the more specific ACC steroid testing, is now accredited to ISO 17025:2005, and we are delighted to be able to offer it more widely to clinicians who are at the frontline of patient care.”
The licence granted by the University of Birmingham allows Alta Bioscience to commercialise and market the steroid profiling test globally.
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About Adrenocortical Cancer (ACC)
• Around 5% of adults have adrenal tumours, a number which rises to 10% in adults over 70 years of age. Most adrenal tumours are identified during routine CT scans. • Although the vast majority of patients diagnosed with adrenal tumours have the benign adrenocortical adenoma (ACA), a small number will have an adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). • Currently, differential diagnosis is challenging as imaging, tumour size measurements and tissue analysis have poor sensitivity and specificity. • The new test can reduce the time to diagnosis and improve the overall detection rates for ACC, and this is expected to increase survival rates. • Because of its rarity (0.72 patients per 1 million population), ACC is a poorly studied disease, and the pharmacological treatments are not well studied. Tumour excision is the only treatment that has been shown to increase overall survival in ACC2.
About AltaBioscience
AltaBioscience provides analytical laboratory services in addition to custom syntheses of peptides, DNA oligos and both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Our testing services include amino acid analysis, protein sequencing, steroid analysis and other mass spec analytical techniques.The company serves an international client base that includes academic, pharmaceutical, healthcare and food industry related customers. AltaBioscience manufactures and distributes all specialist biochemical products from its UK based ISO 9001:2008 laboratory and performs urinary steroid analysis, protein sequencing and amino acid analysis accredited to UKAS ISO 17025:2005 standard.For further information about AltaBioscience contact: Mrs Marion PeakE: [email protected]T: +44(0)121 414 5450For further information about the steroid profiling test, see:https://altabioscience.com/analytical-testing/urinary-steroid-profiling/
About the University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 5,000 international students from over 150 countries.For further information about the University of Birmingham please contact: E: [email protected]
References: 1. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/adrenalcorticalcancer/detailedguide/adrenal-cortical-cancer-survival-by-stage Accessed 14 September 20162. https://www.cancer.gov/types/adrenocortical/hp/adrenocortical-treatment-pdq. Accessed 14 September 2016
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