NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Transgenomic today said that it has completed an option to license from the Dana-Farber cancer Institute a method known as Cold-PCR, which is a variation of standard PCR technology that enriches mutations in samples where normal DNA predominates.
The technology was developed by a Dana-Farber researcher, who demonstrated that it could enrich mutations in cancer-related genes in samples where DNA sequencing cannot detect very low concentrations of somatic DNA mutation, said Transgenomic. The Omaha, Neb.-based firm said that the technology could potentially enable clinicians to use less intrusive methods for genetic analysis or allow for more efficient use of tumor tissue samples.
"Cold-PCR has the potential to further increase the sensitivity of Transgenomic's WAVE DHPLC and Surveyor Nuclease products for mutation detection in cancer and mitochondrial diseases," said Eric Kaldjian, CSO of Transgenomic, in a statement. "In combination, Cold-PCR and WAVE/Surveyor have the potential to detect one mutant copy of DNA out of a thousand to as many as ten thousand normal copies."
Financial and other terms of the license were not disclosed.