Metabolon, Inc. announced that its global biochemical profiling technology has been used to identify biomarkers indicative of prostate cancer progression. The study was conducted with researchers at the University of Michigan. The paper was entitled “Metabolomic profiles delineate potential role for sarcosine in prostate cancer progression”. The study was undertaken to better understand and profile the metabolic changes associated with prostate cancer progression. Using Metabolon’s biochemical profiling to generate global, non-targeted metabolic analysis of tissue, urine and plasma samples, the researchers were able to identify a series of metabolites (including sarcosine) that are key potential predictors of cancer aggressiveness. Applying the biomarkers identified in this study, under exclusive license from the University of Michigan, Metabolon plans to make available a research tool for investigators to better understand tumor aggressivity in prostate cancer and other cancers. “Gaining mechanistic understanding of a disease is the key to discovering new diagnostics,” said John Ryals, chief executive with Metabolon. “The exciting results of this study are an example of just how valuable metabolomic profiling is in the identification of biomarkers.” The lead author is Dr. Arul M. Chinnaiyan, M.D., Ph.D., director, Michigan Center for Translational Pathology and S.P. Hicks endowed professor of pathology, led the research studies that resulted in the discovery of the prostate cancer progression biomarkers described in the publication.