At Precision for Medicine (formerly ApoCell), our molecular profiling services detect the genetic and transcriptional changes unique to each patient sample. Our genomics platforms enable comprehensive characterization of any tissue or cell type including rare cells such as circulating tumor cells, Immune Cells or Progenitor Cells, as well as cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) or RNA. Our platforms enable the discovery of single nucleotide variants (SNVs), indels (insertions/ deletions), gene translocations, rearrangements, copy number alterations, and changes in mRNA or microRNA expression levels. ApoCell can help in assay development to validation, as well as analyze pre-defined content such as off-the-shelf targeted genomic assays or RNA-seq. Our services include basic bioinformatic analysis, providing completed lists of discovered variants, differentially expressed gene transcripts, or other customized files and reports.

Technologies

Targeted and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)

  • Rapidly analyze patient genomes to focus on specific gene targets or whole exome sequencing using the Illumina NextSeq technology
  • RNA-Seq analysis for transcriptome profiling of mRNA, total RNA (mRNAs and non-coding RNA) or small RNAs (e.g., microRNA), with or without stranded information retained
  • Determine the transcriptional structure of genes by more fully characterizing transcribed regions and differentially expressed splice variants
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Quantitative PCR

  • Gene expression assays using TaqMan® or SYBR-Green for quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR)
  • RNA quality assessed with the Agilent BioAnalyzer® system
  • Rare cell RNA isolation and end-point qRT-PCR (relative, absolute, or comparative)

Cytogenetics (FISH) and RNA Expression (ISH)

  • Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization in CTCs, CECs, FFPE, bone, or frozen tissue
  • Vysis® FISH assays in CTCs, CECs, FFPE, bone, or frozen tissue
  • PathVysion™ for accessing gene amplification in breast cancer
  • UroVysion™ aids in the diagnosis and monitoring recurrence in bladder cancer
  • Custom FISH assay development, e.g, Triple-hit lymphoma (MYC/BCL2/BCL6)
  • RNA expression and custom probes using ACD’s RNAscope® technology
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Mutation Profiling

  • Analysis of genomic DNA from CTCs, CECs, PBMCs, FFPE, frozen tissue, or cell-free DNA from plasma or serum
  • Use Ampli-seq or capture-based NGS library preparations to analyze panels focused on informative/actionable cancer genes, inherited diseases, pharmacogenomics, immune cell profiling, mitochondrial diseases, or whole exome sequencing
  • Harness the power of molecular barcoding of genomic DNA to drive variant allele frequency sensitivity down to < 1%, allowing detection of rare variants within liquid biopsy samples
  • Determine mutational burden through NGS analysis of targeted cancer panels or whole exome sequencing
  • Variant analysis using TaqMan® cast-PCR assays of pre-defined SNVs or indels