Cytocell, a developer of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes for use in cancer analysis, has unveiled a ROS1 Breakapart FISH probe test for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The molecular cytogenetic test, which utilizes the FISH technology, is designed to identify rearrangements of ROS1 (c-ros oncogene 1) on chromosome 6 in band 6q22 in tumors.
The company said NSCLC patients having ALK gene rearrangements respond to ALK pathway blockers, while patients with ROS1 gene rearrangements have been shown to respond to ALK/MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as Xalkori(crizotinib).
Cytocell managing director Martin Lawrie said the strategic focus of the company is to understand the mechanisms of lung cancer and develop new tests.
"Through the utilisation of Cytocell's BACs collection and the myProbes customised probe service we were firstly able to offer this probe to several key researchers before launching it as a catalogue item," Lawrie added.
