Cytocell Ltd Introduces New ROS1 Genetic Test for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

CAMBRIDGE, England, October 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Cytocell Ltd. today announced the availability of a new molecular cytogenetic test designed to identify the presence of gene rearrangements associated with a specific form of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These rearrangements in a gene known as ROS1 (c-ros oncogene 1) have been implicated in the formation of cancerous tumors in patients with NSCLC.

     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120906/559436 )

Lung cancer is the world's leading cause of cancer death with more than 1.6 million new cases diagnosed each year. About 85 percent of lung cancer patients have the non-small-cell type and are usually diagnosed with advanced disease with a very low survival rate. ALK gene rearrangements have been shown to respond to therapies that block the ALK pathway. Over 2 percent of those patients are thought to have ROS1 gene rearrangements and have been shown to respond to ALK/MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as Xalkori^®(crizotinib). The Cytocell ROS1 Breakapart FISH probe uses Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) technology to detect rearrangements of the ROS1 gene on chromosome 6 in band 6q22 in tumors. The new Cytocell assay will complement the existing Cytocell Pathology range which also includes the equally important ALK Breakapart FISH probe. It is anticipated that both FISH probes will be used for research, testing, and to support evaluations of new therapies for NSCLC.

Dr Martin Lawrie, Managing Director of Cytocell stated, "Understanding the mechanisms of lung cancer and developing new tests that further increase our knowledge are key to our strategic focus at Cytocell. Through the utilisation of Cytocell's BACs collection and the myProbes^® customised probe service we were firstly able to offer this probe to several key researchers before launching it as a catalogue item."

About Cytocell Ltd.

Cytocell is a leading European developer and manufacturer of FISH probes for use in both routine cytogenetics and in the analysis and classification of Cancers. The Company's products are well established in Cytogenetics as the Company is celebrating its 20^th year of supplying them to this market. More recently, the Company has focused on developing products for Oncology and now has a catalogue of some 350 products for Cytogenetics, Haematology and Solid Tumour analysis as well as developing custom FISH probes for customers with specific interests under the myProbes^® brand. Cytocell's products are available through a well established distributor network, covering more than 60 countries worldwide. Cytocell's FISH probe service is currently proving to be invaluable to cancer researchers and clinicians worldwide.

Cytocell's news releases and other information are available on the company's Web site at http://www.cytocell.com.

For further enquiries, please contact:

Stewart Kennedy,                        
Tel: +44-7860-455527
Sales & Marketing Director

SOURCE Cytocell Ltd