microRNAs serve as biomarkers for lung tumor classification: Study

Rosetta Genomics, Ltd. (NASDAQ: ROSG), a leading developer and provider of microRNA-based molecular diagnostic tests, announces the publication of a study showing microRNA expression differentiates between primary lung tumors and metastases to the lung. The study, entitled, "MicroRNA expression differentiates between primary lung tumors and metastases to the lung," was published in the online edition of Pathology Research and Practice on April 28, 2010. The article is available at the following URL:

“These data offer further evidence of the flexibility and potential wide range of clinical applicability of our microRNA technology. The growing body of literature, as well as our commercial line of miRview™ tests, continue to demonstrate that microRNAs are highly reliable and powerful biomarkers for a wide range of indications”

Differentiating whether a pulmonary neoplasm is primary or metastatic can be challenging for surgical pathologists, and is an important distinction for clinicians in determining the proper treatment protocols. Current biomarkers do not always aid lung tumor classification. The study's authors identified a set of microRNAs that is expressed differentially between these two groups using microRNA microarray data generated from 76 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples of either primary lung cancer or metastatic tumors to the lung.

According to the study, "The tissue-associated expression of microRNA likely explains the remarkable finding that many tumors can be classified based solely on their microRNA expression signature. Here we show that microRNAs can serve as biomarkers for lung tumor classification."

"These data offer further evidence of the flexibility and potential wide range of clinical applicability of our microRNA technology. The growing body of literature, as well as our commercial line of miRview™ tests, continue to demonstrate that microRNAs are highly reliable and powerful biomarkers for a wide range of indications," noted Kenneth A. Berlin, President and CEO of Rosetta Genomics.