Study published in New England Journal of Medicine employs Quest
Diagnostics' blood-based leukemia testing
MADISON, N.J., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Testing of blood
specimens may detect abnormal white blood cells in patients years before the
chronic form of lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) develops, according to research
published in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The
finding may lead to a better understanding of cellular changes that
characterize the earliest stages of the disease and how it progresses.
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National
Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, led the
study, which was co-authored by two researchers with Quest Diagnostics
Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), Maher Albitar, M.D., Medical Director and Chief of
Research and Development, Hematology and Oncology, and Wanlong Ma, M.S.,
Research and Development Manager, Hematology and Oncology.
For the study, Dr. Albitar and Ms. Ma developed a method to identify
abnormal B-cell clones in blood specimens. Quest Diagnostics plans to use a
similar approach to develop tests that may one day be used by physicians as an
aid in identifying patients who will develop CLL.
"We searched for tumor cells by performing a sophisticated form of flow
cytometry as well as molecular testing on frozen samples of whole blood and
blood plasma," said Dr. Albitar. "The findings of this study lead to better
understanding of biological processes underlying the development of CLL, and
give us hope that in the future we will be able to develop new testing
techniques to look at blood from patients with abnormal cells and distinguish
those who will develop overt cancer from those who will not."
"Quest Diagnostics is the leader in cancer testing, and this study
demonstrates the commitment of our science and innovation team to advancing
cancer research," said Surya N. Mohapatra, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, Quest Diagnostics.
CLL is a blood cancer that usually progresses slowly over many years. In
this disease, abnormal white blood cells called B-cells accumulate in the
blood and the bone marrow. The lymph nodes, spleen, and other organs may also
be affected. Although CLL is the most common form of leukemia in adults in
Western countries, little is known about what causes the disease or how it
develops.
Previous research by the NCI/FDA team and others showed that some family
members of CLL patients can have B-cells in their blood that have
outer-surface proteins that are similar to proteins found on CLL cells. This
abnormal condition, known as monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL), occurs in
over 10 percent of CLL family members and in about 3 percent to 5 percent of
healthy adults over the age of 50, suggesting it might be a precursor of CLL.
In the current study, the research team identified 45 individuals among
the more than 77,000 participants in the nationwide Prostate, Lung, Colorectal
and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial who were cancer-free upon entering
the trial, were later diagnosed with CLL, and had frozen blood samples
available for analysis that had been collected upon their enrollment in PLCO.
Using sophisticated laboratory techniques developed by Quest Diagnostics to
analyze the blood samples, the researchers found that 44 of the 45 CLL
patients had MBL between six months to more than six years prior to their CLL
diagnosis. Prior research shows that the MBL cells were identified by
examining cell-surface proteins, or CLL markers, using a method called flow
cytometry, and by using molecular techniques to confirm the presence of
certain rearranged genes, known as immunoglobulin heavy variable (IGHV) group
genes, found in CLL. In 41 patients, MBL was confirmed by both methods.
The study, titled "B-Cell Clones as Early Markers for Chronic Lymphocytic
Leukemia," (Vol. 360, No. 7, Feb. 12, 2009) was accompanied by the editorial
"The Secret Lives of Monoclonal B Cells."
About Quest Diagnostics and Blood-based Tumor Testing
Quest Diagnostics is a leader in noninvasive blood-based biomarker testing
used by physicians to screen for, diagnose and monitor carcinomas and other
tissue-based disease. The company's proprietary Leumeta(TM) portfolio of tests
helps physicians identify and analyze genetic components of leukemia and
lymphoma tumors using blood plasma instead of bone marrow, which can only be
tested after extraction through painful biopsy. In addition, the company is
the exclusive national reference laboratory provider of the blood-based HE4
Ovarian Cancer Monitoring test, which is FDA cleared as an aid in monitoring
recurrent or progressive disease in women with epithelial ovarian cancer. The
company is also developing a molecular blood test based on Epigenomics AG's
Septin 9 DNA methylation biomarker that can help physicians detect colorectal
cancer based on a patient's blood specimen.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics is the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing,
information and services that patients and doctors need to make better
healthcare decisions. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic
testing services through its network of laboratories and patient service
centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical
and scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is a pioneer in developing innovative
diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that
help improve patient care. Additional company information is available at
www.questdiagnostics.com.
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts or
information may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and
outcomes to be materially different. Certain of these risks and uncertainties
may include, but are not limited to, competitive environment, changes in
government regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers,
suppliers and strategic partners and other factors described in the Quest
Diagnostics Incorporated 2007 Form 10-K and subsequent SEC filings.
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics
CONTACT: Wendy Bost (Media): +1-973-520-2800,
or Laure Park (Investors):
+1-973-520-2900,
both of Quest Diagnostics
Web Site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com
(DGX)