- SeeTCL® diagnostic systems
Cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are a group of fatal skin cancers. In early stages, they are difficult to differentiate from benign skin inflammation due to lack of specific diagnostic markers in the past. Not infrequently, these cancers are mis-diagnosed and inappropriately treated, often resulting in undesirable outcomes.
The proprietary SeeTCL technology developed by Horizon Genomed Therapeutics includes the world’s first positive diagnostic markers for CTCL, the TOX protein and the T-plastin protein, which can be detected easily using a monoclonal antibody we specifically identified.
In addition to immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) using anti-TOX and anti-T plastin antibodies, our versatile SeeTCL technology also detects malignant T cells in all forms of tissue biopsies by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH). Circulating malignant T cells in the peripheral blood can also be readily identified and purified by flow cytometry using the specific TOX antibodies we have identified.(1) SeeTCL® diagnostic antibodies:
SeeTCL TOX and T-plastin antibodies: The first generation of the diagnostic antibodies against the specific CTCL protein marker TOX and T-plastin are rabbit polyclonal antibodies that are raised against a portion of the full-length TOX and T-plastin proteins, followed by affinity purification. Also available are mouse monoclonal antibodies against segments of the human TOX protein and human T-plastin. These antibodies have high affinity and specificity against the target proteins and show no significant cross reactivity to other proteins.
The Tested applications include:
- Immunohistochemistry (fresh frozen sections and Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded sections)
- Immunofluorescence
- Western blot analysis
- Flow cytometry
- Immunoprecipitation
- Chromatin immunoprecipitation
Also included are the detailed protocols and user manuals.
Note: These antibodies are designed to be readily used in routine diagnostic pathology laboratories.
(2) SeeTCL® diagnostic RT-PCR kits
Our proprietary diagnostic technology for T cell malignancies also include a set of primers that quantify the expression levels of 4 genes that together yield high sensitivity and specificity for differentiating CTCL skin biopsies from normal skin and skin biopsies from benign inflammatory dermatosis such as psoriasis and chronic dermatitis, the two most common mimickers of CTCL.
The kits include: validated primer sets and reagents for the qPCR reaction, the positive controls RNA samples of CTCL, the negative controls of normal skin and non-malignant skin diseases, and the algorithms for making the call of benign or malignant skin conditions.
Also included are the detailed protocols and user manuals.
Note: This kit is universally designed to be analyzed using any qPCR machine.
- Humanized antibodies against key signaling molecules as therapies for cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Consistent with the findings by Sean D. Doherty et al. and Benjamin F Chong et al., our recent research performed in a large sample of (53 cases) Mycosis Fungoides (MF) (data unpublished) revealed novel and biologically plausible molecular pathways that are highly unregulated in CTCL skin biopsies and the peripheral blood. Two critical molecular targets have been identified and current scientific research and clinical trials results demonstrated they are highly practical and safe targets for the development of human therapies.HG-THmAB-1 and HG-THmAB-2 are humanized monoclonal antibodies that neutralize critical signaling molecules involved in the unique molecular pathways we have found to be highly abnormally activated in CTCL. We anticipate starting clinical trials using these two antibodies in the next 12 months to test their efficacy and safety as therapies for CTCL.HGT-HmAB-1 and HGT-HmAB-2 are humanized monoclonal antibodies that neutralize critical signaling molecules involved in the unique molecular pathways we have found to be highly abnormally activated in CTCL. We anticipate starting clinical trials using these two antibodies in the next 12 months to test their efficacy and safety as therapies for CTCL.
- Humanized antibodies against cancer extracellular matrix proteins as therapies for metastatic melanoma and rheumatoid arthritis
HGT-HmAB-3 and HGT-HmAB-4 are humanized monoclonal antibodies that neutralize two key molecules secreted by the metastatic cancer cells. These molecules also are abnormally secreted by chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Preclinical testing showed that these molecules are required for survival and immune evasion of the metastatic cancer cells as well as for initiating and propagation of chronic inflammation. Further, neutralizing antibodies against these two molecules showed cancer inhibiting activities and anti-inflammatory activities.These two antibodies are being modified to maximize their stability and activity while eliminating immunogenicity in preparation for clinical trials within the next two years.
- Individualized Precision Drug Matching for Cancers (iPDMC)
Cancer is rapidly becoming the leading cause of death world-wide. There are more than 100 types of human cancers; most of them are incurable once having spread form the initial side of development. At present more than 3000 drugs have been developed for cancer treatments that are either already in clinical use, or in clinical trials. However, most human cancers have only been tested against a small number of the cancer medications although recent research showed that drugs previously not considered as obvious therapeutic selections for a given cancer have shown remarkable survival benefit for patients who fail standard cancer therapies. The key lies in finding out which of the 3000 drugs “out there” are likely candidates for clinical use in a given cancer patient.
At HGT, we have analyzed every known cancer related genes (N=194, being constantly updated) and the molecular pathways that become activated as a result of inactivating or activating mutations found in these genes. Therefore, HGT has developed a technology that matches each cancer patient with the best drugs that has the action profiles matching the cancer patients’ unique mutational and molecular pathways being turned on. Therefore, our iPCDM service gives cancer patients a critical second chance of survival once they fail standard chemotherapies.The HGT iPDMC procedure:
- Pretesting consultation and informed consent
- Cancer clinical sample transfer
- Mutational testing for all known cancer related genes with actionable potentials
- Individual cancer pathway mapping
- Cancer drug matching based on mutation-pathway analysis
- Prioritization of potential cancer drugs to use when needed
- Personalized cancer drug matching report
- Expected time: less than 6 weeks after receiving the clinical materials
- Individualized Cancer Neoantigen Vaccination for Prevention and Treatment of Metastatic Cancers (iCNV)
Most of the cancer related death result from cancer metastasis. Neoantigen vaccination is a novel strategy for treating and preventing cancer metastasis in a safe and effective manner that is unmatched by other options. It also has the advantage of being inexpensive and widely applicable. Aided by our proprietary inventions that aid in the design and production of cancer neoantigens for vaccination on an individualized basis, HGT has claimed a leading position in applying this new cancer treatment approach for prevention of cancer related mortality worldwide.The HGT iCNV procedure:
- Pretesting consultation and informed consent
- Transfer of cancer tissue and saliva samples
- Complete genomic and exomic sequencing of cancer cell genome and the saliva sample
- Personalized design and synthesis of cancer neoantigens, and patient-self administration of neoantigen vaccines
- Expected time: less than 8 weeks after receiving the clinical materials