Rosetta Genomics, a developer and provider of microRNA-based molecular diagnostics, has published an article describing the development and validation process of miRview mets, a microRNA-based test for identification of primary origin of metastases.
miRview mets test measures the expression levels of 48 microRNAs to identify 25 different primary origins. The test has been designed to assist patients and physicians diagnose cases of cancer of unknown primary (CUP), or cases where the origin of the metastasis is difficult to identify Test shown to have sensitivity of 85%-90%, and specificity of 97%-99%
The miRview mets test, which included more than 850 samples in its development and validation, uses two classifiers that independently look for a primary origin. When the two classifiers reach the same answer, the test reports a single predicted origin. When the two classifiers identify two different predicted origins, both are reported.
In the study described in Modern Pathology, the overall sensitivity was approximately 85%, and the sensitivity of a single answer prediction was approximately 90%. Overall specificity was 97%-99%.
miRview mets leverages Rosetta Genomics’ microRNA technologies to assign a primary site to metastases in cases where the physician is unsure of its origin. The technologies were described in-depth in a study by Rosetta Genomics, published in March 2008 in Nature Biotechnology.
miRview mets is marketed in the US by Prometheus Laboratories under the ProOnc mets brand, and is available outside the US through various distributors under the miRview mets brand.
Kenneth Berlin, president and CEO of Rosetta Genomics, said: “This publication is yet another validation of the significant advantage of microRNAs as biomarkers. Their high tissue specificity, stability in a wide range of sample types and the large amount of biological information they carry makes microRNAs ideal biomarkers for a range of disease states and indications, including metastatic cancer.
“As we have previously announced, we expect to launch a second generation of our miRview mets in the second half of 2010. This new version is expected to be able to identify approximately twice the number of origins compared with the first generation test.”