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Molecular Diagnostic Center (MDC)

Our Mission

To develop predictive biomarkers for various cancer therapies that will play a critical role in the efforts to best match patients to the most effective treatments. It will foster discoveries that will enable physicians to determine the specific genetic and molecular abnormalities in each patient's cancer and then prescribe the appropriate therapy.

The MDC primary work is

Laboratory discoveries with the greatest potential to lead to innovative diagnostic mechanisms to identify key targets in a patient's tumor and predictive and prognostic markers
Provide new diagnostic tests for established predictive and prognostic markers including mutations for other candidate genes predictive for treatments efficacy:

KRAS mutations predictive for cetuximab treatment for metastatic colorectal patients
BRAF - mutations predictive for Erbitux / Panitumumab treatment for colorectal patients, RAF inhibitors for melanoma patients, and Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma for the most appropriate treatment.
EGFR - mutations predictive for Tarceva or Iressa for non small cell lung carcinoma.
C-Kit and PDGFRA mutations for Imatinib and Sunitinib predictive in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST).
PTEN
PIK3CA
HER2

Pharmacogenetics

CYP2D6 polymorphism - Tamoxifen treatment efficacy
UGT1A1 polymorphism - CPT-11 treatment toxicity
DPD expression- 5FU toxicity

The MDC at Tel Hasomer provides DNA based testing for diagnosis of variety of diseases. All tests are performed on paraffin blocks, using clinical protocols, assuring accurate results. All reports are detailed.

Results are reported directly to referring physician to discuss interpretation.

Technology

Sequenom massarray iPLEX platform

One of the methods to translate DNA information into complete identification of bio-markers. The technology can provide genetic analysis for biomedical research and molecular medicine applications.

We can identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype, base on locus specific poly chain reaction (PCR), followed by single base DNA extension. In the next step by using the Sequenom, the mass of the extended primer is determined. The different in the weight, point out on changes at the polymorphic site. By using the Sequenom software, we can get translation of the mass to genotype.

The DNA analysis is reliable and specific and can be done on complex biological samples like tissue culture and tumors, and on simple biological samples like blood.

Real Time PCR

By using real time PCR we can detect and quantify specific relatively short DNA sequence particularly in genetic abnormality as SNP's. We will use the technique at MDC to look for changes in gene expression over time and for response of tissue or cell culture before and after therapy.

Length analysis

Allele-specific PCR and specific primers can discriminate small changes in DNA length. Identification of insertion or deletion of small DNA fragments as well as SNP in the DNA, base on that length analysis and size separation, can lead to detection of genetic changes in the DNA.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization-FISH

FISH is sensitive diagnostic tool for detection and localization of a specific DNA sequence on chromosome. By using isolated tagged fragment of DNA that can incorporate directly to the sequence of interest, we can detect the presents or absence of DNA sequence in DNA from cancer patients.

Immuno-staining

Staining of tissue sections after fixation to give colored product will provide us with diagnosis information about present of molecular markers of specific types of cancers.

With that method we will be able to learn about present of proteins, expression and distribution of them in the tissue section.

staff personal working in the lab