Targeted Molecular Diagnostics

Technologies - Apoptotic Assessments

Apoptotic Assessment
Many therapeutics work by stimulating apoptosis in tumor cells. Therefore, apoptosis can be a highly informative surrogate biomarker for drug efficacy and even patient selection. TMD published this work in: J Clin Onc (2005) 23(11):2502-12. TMD uses the Cleaved Caspase-3 assay to specifically distinguish apoptotic cell death from other types of non-specific cell death. TMD can perform this assay in xenografts and clinical specimens.

Key Benefits:

•	Apoptosis is a valuable biomarker of both drug efficacy and patient response
•	Cleaved Caspase-3 assay is specific for apoptotic cell death
•	TMD has expertise performing the Cleaved Caspase-3 assay in routinely fixed xenografts and clinical specimens

sample

A head and neck cancer specimen stained for Cleaved Caspase-3 before treatment (left panel) and a specimen from the same patient after treatment (right panel) with a dual ErbB1/ErbB2 inhibitor. There is a marked increase in cell death and Cleaved Caspase-3 staining after therapy.

To consult with TMD’s Translational Biomarker Specialists, call 866.897.7350 ex 213 or email TMD Translational Biomarker Services at biomarkers@tmdlab.com.