Workflow schematic of the diagnostic platform for detecting B cell malignancies.
Invention Summary:
B cell malignancies comprise more than 50% of blood cancers and approximately 90% of all lymphomas. Existing technologies for the detection of B cell malignancies include modern imaging technologies, flow cytometry of B cell subpopulations, cytogenetic techniques, immunohistochemical staining, and Ig gene clonality analyses by PCR or sequencing. The sensitivity of all these existing methods is dependent on adequate sizes of tumors or adequate numbers of malignant B cells present in the tumor/bone marrow (BM) biopsies or blood samples, and therefore is relatively limited. Accordingly, there is a pressing need for a more sensitive assay for early detection and diagnosis of B cell malignancies as well as potential relapses of B cell malignancies.
Researchers at Rutgers University have developed a novel antigens-based diagnostic platform to detect antibodies produced by malignant B cells for the diagnosis of mature B cell malignancies and potential relapses. This new diagnostic platform does not require the presence of any malignant B cells in blood samples because it detects soluble antibodies in the blood. Furthermore, this technology provides the ability to detect a large array of B cell malignancies not only in humans but also in other species, such as dogs, cats, non-human primates, and livestock animals.
Market Applications:
- Detection and diagnosis of B cell malignancies and potential relapses
- Clinical diagnosis and veterinary care
- Basic and translational research
Advantages:
- High sensitivity using only a small volume of blood samples
- Detection of many different types of B cell malignancies
- Diagnostic capacity for different species
Intellectual Property & Development Status: Provisional patent application filed, patent pending. Available for licensing and/or research collaboration. Please contact marketingbd@research.rutgers.edu
