Huntsman Cancer Institute and Silico Insights Partner for Early Melanoma Detection and Progression.

Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers

SALT LAKE CITY & WOBURN, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--March 11, 2002

Genomic research and protein pathway discovery

to identify targets for early diagnosis of melanoma skin cancer

Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah and Silico Insights, Inc. announce today a collaboration to develop a better understanding of cancer mechanisms leading to diagnostic and drug development targets. The partnership will leverage the significant data resources available at the University of Utah to study genealogically related families in clinical settings for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The focus of the joint effort will be initially on melanoma-related research done within the Tom C. Mathews Jr. Familial Melanoma Research Clinic (FMRC) of HCI.

"Melanoma is a devastating disease if not detected early," explained Sancy Leachman, MD, PhD, Director of the FMRC. Dr. Leachman is involved in research on skin cancer at HCI based on differential gene expression and hopes to develop agents that will serve as diagnostic tools, prognostic indicators, or therapies. "We have been conducting detailed studies of genotypes and gene expression in a variety of tissues that represent non-cancerous, pre-cancerous and metastatic melanoma. Silico Insights' technology and expertise will enable us to fully understand these studies and extend them into mechanistic pathways," Dr. Leachman added.

Melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is one of the most rapidly increasing forms of all cancers diagnosed, and a form that has been without significant advances in treatment alternatives. Research efforts have not identified useful molecular predictors of early melanoma progression. Studies within the FMRC are investigating the disease among family members with high incidence of melanoma. Dr. Leachman explained that one of the earliest mutational events that occur in melanoma patients could be loss of function of tumor suppressor genes. Detailed studies of tissues from patients with and without susceptibility to melanoma will allow characterization of genetic mechanisms leading to melanoma. Dr. Leachman added that the understanding of such molecular pathways creates new opportunities to understand and prevent melanoma.

Dinesh Patel, Ph.D., Chairman of Silico Insights and a seasoned Utah entrepreneur added, "Combining our expertise with the cutting edge research at one of the leading cancer institutes in the world presents a great opportunity for innovation in oncology."

Silico Insights' technology will initially identify and annotate clusters of genes with differential patterns, generated from HCI's microarray-based data. Differential response between benign, pre-cancerous and malignant tissues from members of high-risk melanoma kindreds will be investigated. In collaboration with FMRC scientists, Silico Insights will also perform proteomic studies on the HCI samples to profile post-translational modifications. The mapping of genes and protein modifications into pathways, combined with informatics approaches, will provide a quantitative framework for target identification.

HCI and Silico Insights will jointly evaluate results of the collaborative research for development of early detection methods. "The delivery of reliable results that ultimately lead to a non-invasive test for melanoma will be a great success for all people at risk for melanoma," said Nandan Padukone, Ph.D., President of Silico Insights. "We look forward to building a strong bridge with HCI's unique resources and extending the benefits of our technology platform to other cancer programs as well," Padukone added.

About Huntsman Cancer Institute

The Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) conducts genetic cancer research, utilizing the largest genetic database in the world compromised of over three million people. HCI offers patients and the public genetic counseling, high-risk breast cancer, colon cancer and melanoma clinics, and a Cancer Learning Center staffed by specialized health educators. In its interdisciplinary approach to cancer care, HCI conducts medical clinical trials, houses outpatient clinics, infusion suite facilities, and a pain and palliative care program for cancer patients. HCI is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a 19-member alliance of the world's leading cancer institutes throughout the United States. For more information visit the web site at www.huntsmancancer.org

About Silico Insights

Silico Insights, Inc., based in Woburn, MA, combines proteomics research with informatics approaches to elucidate pathways in inflammation-based diseases such as cancer and diabetes. The company's technology platform is focused on characterization of relationships between protein modifications and gene expression to identify gene function, protein interactions and pathways in disease responses. The platform also consists of powerful algorithms for integration, analysis and visualization of complex correlations. The company's proprietary informatics platform, i-Sight, has been applied successfully to both drug discovery and clinical data. Silico Insights has established a steady clientele within pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to build research efficiencies leading to accelerated drug discovery and development. For more information visit the web site at www.silicoinsights.com or send e-mail to [e-mail].