ANGLE PLC (AIM:AGL, OTCQX:ANPCY), the liquid biopsy specialist, said researchers at the University of New Mexico used the company’s Parsortix system to yeiled a potential breakthrough in the understanding of the progression of melanoma brain metastasis.

The study focused on the gene expression profile of circulating tumour cells (CTCs), which are pivotal in the development and progression of this form of cancer.

The research used the Parsortix system for harvesting CTCs, which allowed for an in-depth analysis of their gene expression. This approach has shed light on the potential of using CTC profiling to prescribe more targeted treatments for melanoma, particularly in cases where the cancer has metastasized to the brain.

In the pre-clinical mouse model evaluation, various treatment groups were subjected to different cancer drugs, either individually or in combination, and compared against a placebo.

The analysis of blood samples using the Parsortix system revealed that a combination of two specific cancer drugs was most effective in reducing tumour burden, metastasis, and the count of CTCs.

This research not only underscores the Parsortix system’s capability in harvesting CTCs for analysis but also contributes to the broader field of cancer treatment by highlighting the potential of tailored therapies based on CTC gene expression.

The research aligns with the growing global market for preclinical clinical research organizations, which exceeded a valuation of US$5 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to grow further, driven by increasing R&D expenditure and the development of drugs in preclinical stages.

“The use of CTC biomarkers in clinical trials is a rapidly growing field enabling longitudinal monitoring of transcriptomic and proteomic changes. ANGLE can provide pharma customers with a complete range of services to support preclinical and clinical drug development,” said ANGLE CEO and founder, Andrew Newland.

“This includes standardised and validated protocols for analysing CTCs including the established techniques of IF, dPCR and NGS, and the capability to deliver bespoke assays to identify drug targets and ascertain therapeutic efficacy.”