Agency for Science, Technology and Research

Lucence Life Sciences Pte Ltd.

International Business Machines Corporation

Min-Han Tan

Jackie Yi-Ru Ying

Igor Cima

Yukti Choudhury

Motoichi Kurisawa

Joo Eun Chung

Ki Hyun Bae

Yoke San Daniel Lee

Wai Min Phyo

Yeon Joon Park

Yongvongsoontorn Nunnarpas

Esther Lee

Puay Hoon Tan

Jackie Y Ying

James L Hedrick

Yi Yan Yang

Willy Chin

Jye Yng Teo

Xiyu Ke

Bin Tean Teh

Wai Jin Tan

Pannapa Pinweha

Jia Min Ho

Kao Chin Ngeow

Chae Yin Cher

Shujun Gao

Kurisawa Motoichi

Thu Hong Anh Vo

Disclosed is a method of detecting and quantifying genomic and gene expression alterations using RNA in a biological sample. The disclosed method may include determining presence or absence of the genomic alteration and/or determining presence or absence of the gene expression and/or quantifying the level of the gene expression, by performing variant calling of the sequence alignment obtained from the disclosed method. Variant calling may comprise the steps of identifying differences between a consensus read and a reference genome based on the sequence alignment from the disclosed method; and determining the read count of sequence alignments comprising genomic alteration. The genomic alteration may be an insertion (such as a duplication), a deletion, a single nucleotide variant, or combinations thereof. Also disclosed is a kit for detecting and quantifying genomic and gene expression alterations using RNA in a biological sample.

Method of detecting and quantifying geonomic and gene expression alterations using RNA

A column-based device and method for retrieving cells of interest were enclosed. The said device comprises a column comprising (i) an inner wall defining an inner chamber with inlet and outlet openings, (ii) a perforated plug disposed adjacent to the outlet opening, (iii) a sleeve insert with a channel and disposed within the chamber and adjacent to the perforated plug, and (iv) a filtering means housed within sleeve insert sandwiched between two sealing means. In particular, Tumor-derived endothelial cell clusters (TECCs) as characterized multiple nuclei, expression of endothelial markers (PECAM1, VWF and CDH5), and non-expression of leukocyte, megakaryocyte and platelets markers, may be retrieved using the disclosed device. Also encompassed are methods, reagents and kits for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancers by detecting for the presence of TECCs isolated from blood samples using the claimed device.

Column-based device for retrieval of rare cells based on size, and uses thereof

An in vitro method of determining the type of a fibroepithelial tumour of the breast in a biological sample is provided. The method comprises the steps of obtaining an expression profile of one or more genes selected from the group consisting of PRAME, ADH1 B, CTHRC1, NPTX2, NEFL, ABCA8, DAPL1, TP63_v2, COL17A1, GCNT2, CCL19, MMP3, FN1, TRERF1, TRIM29, TESC, KIF20A, UHRF1, HEPACAM2, APOD, SERHL2. KIF15, HOXD13, GAGE2B, CALML5, C2orf40, ADH1C, CYP1B1, SPAG11B, GRB7, UBE2C, SYNGAP1, TP63_v1, LAMB1, OR5P3, SPC25, SHISA2, SCARA5, LHX2, RORC, DPYSL4, CH25H, and CHST1 in a sample and determining the differential activity of the one or more genes relative to a control; correlating the differential activity of the one or more genes relative to the control to obtain a p-score; and determining the type of fibroepithelial tumour based on the p-score, wherein a p-score of less than 0.5 is indicative of a fibroadenoma and a p-score of 0.5 and above is indicative of phyllodes tumour. Particularly, the said method is exemplified using an expression profile of five genes comprising of PRAME, FN1, CCL19, ABCA8 and APOD. A method for managing the treatment of a subject with a fibroepithelial tumour of the breast is also provided as well as a kit when used in the methods of the present invention.

Multigene assay

A method of simultaneously analyzing RNA and DNA in a sample, the method comprising the step (a) contacting the sample with a reverse primer from a first primer pair directed to a target RNA region to effect reverse transcription of RNA into cDNA with a reverse transcriptase; (b) subsequently contacting the sample with (i) a forward primer from the first primer pair directed to a second cDNA region, (ii) a forward and a reverse primers from a second primer pair targeted to a DNA region, and (ii) a DNA polymerase to simultaneously amplify the target cDNA and target DNA region; and (c) analyzing the amplified target cDNA region and/or amplified target DNA region. Also encompassed are uses of the method to analyze gene expression and mutations, kits comprising primers, enzymes, buffers.

Single cell RNA and mutational analysis PCR (SCRM-PCR): a method for simultaneous analysis of DNA and RNA at the single-cell level

Column-based device and method for retrieval of rare cells based on size, and uses thereof

A method of making a prognosis as to whether a patient having renal cancer is likely to survive in a tumour tissue sample obtained from the patient is provided. The method comprising determining the level of expression for each marker of a panel of markers comprising at least one housekeeping gene selected from the group consisting of ACTB, RPL13A, RPL9, and RPS29 and any combinations thereof and at least one prognostic gene selected from the group consisting of CXCL5, EFNA5, EMCN, G6PC, GFPT2, HIST2H3C, IGFBP1, LAMB3, MMP9, MOCOS, PLG, PRAME, RARRES1, SDPR, SLC6A19, TK1, KDELR3 and TSPAN7 and any combinations thereof, comparing the level of expression of each marker with a predetermined reference level associated with each marker, and determining the differential expression of each marker in the tumour tissue sample based on the expression parameter for each marker to provide a prognosis for renal cancer.

Method of treating a patient having renal cancer

The present invention relates to micellar nanocomplexes and a method of forming the same. The micellar nanocomplex comprises a micelle and an agent encapsulated within said micelle, where the micelle comprises a polymer-flavonoid conjugate, wherein said polymer is bonded to the B ring of said flavonoid. The micellar nanocomplex may have useful applications as a drug-delivery system.

Micellar polymer-flavonoid conjugate nanocomplex

Micellar nanocomplex

Amphiphilic block copolymers (BCPs) were prepared comprising a poly(ethylene oxide) block and a biodegradable polycarbonate block functionalized with disulfide groups and carboxylic acid groups. The BCPs form self-assembled micellar particles in aqueous solution that can be loaded with hydrophobic drugs for therapeutic drug delivery. The loaded particles have small particle sizes (&#x3c;100 nm), narrow particle size distributions, and high drug loading capacity (up to about 50 wt %) based on total dry weight of the loaded particles. Particles loaded with DOX released the DOX in response to changes in pH and glutathione (GSH) redox chemistry. The loaded particles efficiently delivered and released DOX within tumor cells, effectively suppressing growth of the tumor cells at a similar or even lower drug concentration than free DOX. Blank particles containing no DOX did not induce cytotoxicity to cells.

Block copolymers for therapeutic drug delivery

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

Min-Han Tan