Theradiag has launched the second phase of its study to identify microRNA biomarkers to predict the response to treatment and metastatic relapse in rectal cancer (miCRA project). Biological validation will be carried out on a broader range of patients, in partnership with the Regional Cancer Institute of Montpellier (ICM).
The first phase of the miCRA project began at the end of 2013 with the screening of potential microRNA candidates, which was followed by a technical validation on an initial cohort of 70. A biostatistical analysis of the data has helped identify modulated and specific microRNA candidates that predict the response to chemo/radiotherapy treatments and metastatic recurrence in rectal cancer.
The aim of the second phase of this study will be to validate, across a broader range of patients, the biological relevance of the identified microRNA candidates in order to establish a robust signature that could be routinely used in a new theranostics test. This second phase is also being done in partnership with the ICM.
"Thanks to our partnership with the Cancer Institute of Montpellier (ICM) and to our platform specializing in development applied to microRNAs, we are able to position ourselves on the very large oncology market, on top of our presence on the autoimmune disease market. For the rectal cancer segment, a theranostics kit's potential world market is estimated at several tens of millions of euros," commented Michel Finance, CEO of Theradiag.