MDS Analytical Technologies' Laser Capture Microdissection Helps Facilitate Discovery of Potential New Colon-Cancer...( SUNNYVALE CA Feb. 4 / MDS Analytical ...),Health

SUNNYVALE, CA, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - MDS Analytical Technologies, a leader in innovative solutions for drug discovery and life sciences research, today announced that its Arcturus(R) Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) instruments were used by researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) in their discovery of genetic variations that may prove to be key predictors of risk for colon cancer and indicators of the disease's progression.

Researchers hope that these important findings will provide doctors with much improved diagnostic tools for colon cancer. By identifying people that carry these genetic variations, doctors will be better equipped to determine the course of treatment for patients with the disease. This data may also prove important as doctors advise patients on health and lifestyle choices that may influence one's risk of developing the disease.

"MDS Analytical Technologies is very pleased that its Arcturus line of LCM instruments played such a key role in this important discovery that may move us even closer to preventing more people from developing colon cancer," said Andy Boorn, President of MDS Analytical Technologies. "By maintaining custody of the sample throughout the microdissection process, the Arcturus system removed any guesswork from the experiment, and allowed the researchers at the University of Cincinnati to collect only their desired material for this important study."

As reported in the January 16, 2009 issue of PLoS Genetics, a peer-review, open-access scientific journal published by the U.S. Public Library of Science, scientists at UC used Arcturus(R) LCM systems to investigate the role that the abnormal regulation of a known prostate cancer biomarker - alpha-methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase (AMACR) - plays in colon cancer. AMACR is a protein that breaks down branched-chain fatty acids, which are found in red meats and dairy products, and are suspected to be risk factors fo
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