Affymetrix Launches Program to Advance Cancer Research.Partnership With Leading Scientists Aims to Accelerate Breakthroughs in More Than 10 Types of Cancers SANTA CLARA Santa Clara, city, Cuba Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. , Calif. -- Affymetrix Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFX) announced today the launch of the Collaborations in Cancer Research Program, an alliance between Affymetrix and up to 30 leading European cancer researchers. As part of the program, Affymetrix will partially fund selected research projects that demonstrate clinical utility, enabling participants to develop new approaches to elucidate cancer mechanisms and to accelerate discoveries in more than 10 different forms of cancer. The studies selected for the Collaborations in Cancer Research Program incorporate a number of different microarray-based applications, including copy number analysis, chromatin immunoprecipitation Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, is a method used for experiments in molecular biology. The purpose of this assay is to determine whether proteins including (but not limited to) transcription factors bind to a particular region on the endogenous chromatin of (ChIP), gene expression and splicing splicing /splic·ing/ (spli´sing) 1. the attachment of individual DNA molecules to each other, as in the production of chimeric genes. 2. RNA s. pattern analysis. In addition to helping participants obtain tools and training, Affymetrix will also provide forums where investigators can exchange knowledge and share best practices. "The program provides an opportunity to learn from other people's experience and drive our own research forward," said Ashok Venkitaraman, M.D., Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Oncology and The Medical Research Council Cancer Cell Unit at the University of Cambridge. Dr. Venkitaraman's research utilizes ChIP to explore the roles of the BRCA BRCA One of two genes (designated BRCA1 and BRCA2) that help repair damage to DNA, but when inherited in a defective state increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. 1 and BRCA2 genes, which were among the first genes to be linked to a high-penetrance risk of developing early-onset cancer. "The latest Affymetrix tiling arrays cover the entire genome at high enough resolution to enable new insights from ChIP and expression profiling Microarray technology is often used for gene expression profiling. It makes use of the sequence resources created by the genome sequencing projects and other sequencing efforts to answer the question, experiments. The company also has a lot of in-house experience with data analysis and data collection, which is a big advantage for labs such as mine," said Dr. Venkitaraman. Participants in the Collaborations in Cancer Research Program were selected on the basis of past contributions to their respective fields, and the potential to make significant advancements in their current research. Michael Hummel hummel entire, naturally polled deer. , Ph.D., group leader at the Charite-Universitatsmedizin Berlin Institute of Pathology, previously used Affymetrix expression arrays to uncover a 58-gene expression signature that reliably and reproducibly distinguishes patients with Burkitt's lymphoma Bur·kitt's lymphoma n. An undifferentiated malignant lymphoma usually occurring among children in central Africa, characterized by a large osteolytic lesion in the mandible or by a mass in the retroperitoneal area and associated with the Epstein-Barr from those with large-B-cell lymphoma. Now, his team is using Affymetrix promoter tiling arrays to study transcription factor  This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers.Please [improve the article] or discuss this issue on the talk page. binding in lymphoma. "Extremely complex assays such as ChIP-on-chip on Affymetrix tiling arrays are able to generate a reliable, reproducible and broad view on the global transcription factor binding profile," said Dr. Hummel. "This is really fascinating because the whole-genome approach provides powerful insight into gene regulation." Many researchers in the program are exploring the cancer genome with integrated approaches made possible by the Affymetrix platform. The ability to combine information from gene expression profiling, copy number alterations, alternative splicing Alternative splicing is the RNA splicing variation mechanism in which the exons of the primary gene transcript, the pre-mRNA, are separated and reconnected so as to produce alternative ribonucleotide arrangements. and gene regulation is pivotal to understanding the molecular basis of cancer. "It's a big advantage that all of these experiments can be done on compatible platforms," said James Reid James Reid is the name of:
DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. copy number and mRNA alternative splicing as they relate to mutations associated with the development of colon cancer colon cancer, cancer of any part of the colon (often called the large intestine). Colon cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. . Additional researchers in the Collaborations in Cancer Research Program are exploring leukemia, as well as cancers of the breast, lung, prostate, thyroid, bladder, skin and others. The results of the participating studies will be showcased to the cancer community at an Affymetrix-sponsored European cancer meeting in the second half of 2007. Later this year, Affymetrix will expand the Collaborations in Cancer Research Program to selected groups in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. and Japan. "Affymetrix is committed to furthering developments in science and medicine by working with leading scientists to accelerate cancer research," said Ruby Gadelrab, senior market development manager at Affymetrix and director of the program. "We are honored to partner with these world-renowned cancer researchers, and we hope that their work will facilitate potential breakthroughs by developing and demonstrating novel approaches to cancer genomics." The following is a partial listing of researchers participating in the Collaborations in Cancer Research Program in Europe: [TABLE OMITTED] About Affymetrix Affymetrix GeneChip([R]) microarray technology is the industry-standard tool for analyzing complex genetic information. After inventing microarray technology in the late 1980s, Affymetrix scientists have been dedicated to developing innovative products that provide researchers with a more complete view of the genome. These products continue to accelerate genetic research and enable scientists to develop diagnostics and tailor treatments for individual patients by identifying and measuring the genetic information associated with complex diseases. Today, Affymetrix technology is used by the world's top pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology companies Top 100 Biotechnology Companies The following is a list of the top 100 biotechnology companies ranked by revenue. The first nine companies qualify for the list of the top 50 pharmaceutical companies. , as well as leading academic, government and not-for-profit research institutes. More than 1,500 systems have been shipped around the world and more than 8,500 peer-reviewed papers have been published using the technology. Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., and has manufacturing facilities in Sacramento, Calif., and Singapore. The company has about 1,100 employees worldwide and maintains sales and distribution operations across Europe and Asia. For more information about Affymetrix, please visit the company's website at www.affymetrix.com. Forward-looking Statements All statements in this press release that are not historical are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act as amended, including statements regarding Affymetrix' "expectations," "beliefs," "hopes," "intentions," "strategies" or the like. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially for Affymetrix from those projected, including risks and uncertainties associated with the outcome of the Collaborations in Cancer Program discussed in this press release; risks of the company's ability to achieve and sustain higher levels of revenue, higher gross margins and reduced operating expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. ; uncertainties relating to technological approaches, manufacturing and product development; personnel retention; uncertainties related to cost and pricing of Affymetrix products; dependence on collaborative partners; uncertainties relating to sole-source suppliers; uncertainties relating to FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. and other regulatory approvals; competition; risks relating to intellectual property of others and the uncertainties of patent protection and litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. . These and other risk factors are discussed in Affymetrix' Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the year ended December 31, 2006, and other SEC reports, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. for subsequent quarterly periods. Affymetrix expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Affymetrix' expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. NOTE: Affymetrix, the Affymetrix logo and GeneChip([R]) are registered trademarks owned or used by Affymetrix Inc. |
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