Affymetrix Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFX) announced today that researchers at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and University Medical Center Hamburg (UMCH) have used Affymetrix microarray technology to discover a gene amplification associated with breast disease and breast cancer. The study, "Estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) gene amplification is frequent in breast cancer," was published in a recent issue of Nature Genetics.
Cancer is a highly complex disease, which can encompass multiple genomic alterations on the pathway from a normal cell to a diseased state. By improving the understanding of these molecular mechanisms, scientists are gaining greater insight into the initiation of cancer, its progression and its sensitivity to therapeutics.
"We introduced Affymetrix GeneChip® Technology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia four years ago to help bridge the gap between laboratory findings and clinical application," said Khawla Al-Kuraya, M.D., F.C.A.P., a leading cancer researcher at KFSH&RC. "Since then, we have been able to investigate the etiology of a variety of tumors of different lineages to develop diagnostic or therapeutic strategies. Our overall goal is to improve the management of cancer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and provide unprecedented tools for translational research throughout the region."
Dr. Khawla's research team at KFSH&RC and the research team at UMCH used the Affymetrix GeneChip®Human Mapping Arrays to identify and measure copy number variations found in breast cancer. The team found that 99 percent of tumors with ESR1 amplification showed estrogen receptor protein over expression, compared with 66.6 percent of cancers without ESR1 amplification. ESR1 amplification might be instrumental in defining a subtype of primary breast cancers and perhaps other proliferate breast diseases that have particularly high estrogen receptor expression.
"King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre is the largest and most influential research institute in the Middle East, and we are very pleased to say that this paper in Nature Genetics is the first major scientific publication authored by a customer in the Persian Gulf region," said Robert Wells, vice president of corporate affairs and international markets at Affymetrix. "The team at KFSH&RC and University Medical Center Hamburg is part of a growing list of Affymetrix customers from around the world who are helping to accelerate cancer research."
Affymetrix offers a broad portfolio of solutions for cancer research on a single industry-standard microarray platform. Researchers are increasingly combining multiple microarray-based applications to evaluate different genomic phenomena. Affymetrix also provides a clear pathway for clinical laboratories and diagnostic partners to advance signatures to the clinic with the only microarray instrument platform that is FDA-approved in the United States and CE-marked in the European Union for in-vitro diagnostic use. Today, more than 20 oncology assays are under development on this platform, encompassing screening through prognosis and monitoring. Through the use of these tools, researchers can achieve a more complete picture of the genesis and evolution of cancer, with the goal of ultimately improving the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Gulf Scientific Corporation (GSC) supplied the Affymetrix microarray technology. Since its inception in 1990, GSC has been offering its customers innovative tools including application and method development support, practical training courses and preventative maintenance services.
"We have been witnessing, over the last four years, increasing genetics and cancer research programs in the Middle East whose main focus is to find ways and means to identify, diagnose, prevent and control these diseases," said Wahib Afyouni, Ph.D., managing director of GSC. "Affymetrix, with active support from Gulf Scientific Corporation, has built its reputation as a leading developer and supplier of microarray technology ever since the first system was installed in King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Saudi Arabia a few years ago. Affymetrix has continued to strengthen its regional presence with new systems recently installed in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar."
To learn more about this breakthrough and read the entire scientific publication from the April 8, 2007, issue of Nature Genetics, please visit: http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v39/n5/full/ng2006.html
About King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre
KFSH&RC is an 800-bed multi-facility, multi-entity tertiary care hospital and one of the leading healthcare institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its mission is to provide highly specialized medical services and promote medical research and education programs, including postgraduate education training, as well as contribute to the prevention of disease.
About Gulf Scientific Corporation (GSC):
Gulf Scientific Corporation (GSC) is a leading supplier of a broad spectrum of analytical, chromatography, spectroscopy and state of the art life science research technologies. Since its inception in 1990, GSC has been offering its customers innovative tools including application and method development support, practical training courses and preventative maintenance services. GSC has succeeded in gaining the confidence of its principals and its customers and has grown to become one of the unquestioned leaders. GSC is now run by a team of more than 105 professionals, and supported by a network of distinguished local agents, with support offices throughout the region. Visit their website at http://www.gsc2000.com.
About Affymetrix
Affymetrix GeneChip® 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, 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, but not limited to: risks and uncertainties associated with the use of the Affymetrix technology 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; 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 and other regulatory approvals; competition; risks relating to intellectual property of others and the uncertainties of patent protection and litigation. These and other risk factors are discussed in Affymetrix' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and other SEC reports, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 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® are registered trademarks owned or used by Affymetrix Inc.