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KUMC professor wins patent for lung cancer gene diagnosis method
  • By Lee Han-soo
  • Published 2018.12.11 16:54
  • Updated 2018.12.11 16:54
  • comments 0

A researcher at Konkuk University Medical Center (KUMC) has registered a patent regarding the world first lung cancer gene diagnosis method, the hospital said Tuesday.

Professor Lee Kea-young

Professor Lee Kea-young and his team developed the method to detect the epithermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation using extracellular vesicle DNA isolated from body fluids, for the first time in the world, the hospital said.

Lung cancer can be divided into two kinds -- small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer -- according to the tissue type. While non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 80 to 90 percent of all lung cancers, about 40 percent of Korean non-small cell lung cancer patients suffer from EGFR mutation-positive lung cancer.

Therefore, tests that quickly identify the presence or absence of EGFR mutations are essential in determining therapeutic anti-cancer drugs.

The research team developed a technique that extracts DNA from the extracellular endoplasmic reticulum in body fluids such as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, blood, pleural fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, and analyzes the material for EGFR gene.

Currently, medical professionals perform EGFR gene mutation tests by extracting DNA the pathologic slide. The method developed by the KUMC team not only showed sensitivity and accuracy comparable to liquid biopsy by using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, but also a higher EGFR gene mutation detection rate than the conventional method.

Also, the developed test method showed superior sensitivity in detecting the T790M resistance gene, which may occur after the first-line anticancer drug treatment compared to the conventional treatment.

The method can also reduce the time within one day compared to biopsies, which took 10 to 14 days.

“The team has developed the world's first detection of the epithermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation using extracellular vesicle DNA isolated from body fluids,” Professor Lee said. “Based on this technology, we will lead the lung cancer precise medicine by leading and creative technology by expanding to next-generation sequence (NGS) analysis as well as epigenetic and proteomic areas.”

corea022@docdocdoc.co.kr

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