ANGLE PLC (AIM:AGL, OTCQX:ANPCY) told investors further world-class research using its Parsortix tools is providing novel insight into the role of MRGs (Metabolism-Related Genes) as biomarkers for disease remission or relapse in a form of lung cancer (non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC).
The Parsortix system also allowed the researchers at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece, to investigate the association of MRG expression with epithelial and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, Angle noted.
Parsortix enabled the harvesting of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) from whole blood samples from 46 early-stage NSCLC patients in the study, allowing researchers to examine the molecular expression of three MRGs prior to surgery, one month after surgery and at relapse.
The researchers observed that analysis of CTCs in patients one month after surgery showed a reduction in the expression of two of the MRGs compared to baseline levels, and, subsequently, expression of two of the three MRGs analysed increased in CTCs at relapse.
Angle chief executive Andrew Newland, in a statement, said: “The high proportion of mesenchymal CTCs observed in patients who had relapsed demonstrates the importance of isolating this subset of CTCs which is enabled by the Parsortix system.
“Not only could MRGs be utilised as a biomarker for cancer relapse and disease progression but could also have potential as a target for drug discovery."
Professor Evi Lianidou, Head of the Molecular Diagnostics Lab at NKUA, meanwhile, commented: "MRG overexpression was observed at a high frequency in the CTCs of early-stage NSCLC patients, supporting its role in metastatic processes.
“The glycolytic and mesenchymal subpopulation of CTCs was significantly predominant compared to CTCs that were glycolytic and not mesenchymal-like. Our data indicate that MRGs merit further evaluation through large and well-defined cohort studies."