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MicroRNAs and Oncology Drug Development
9 June 2009
MicroRNAs and Oncology Drug Development

MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression by base-pairing with their target mRNA. It is estimated that microRNAs may regulate up to 30% of all genes in mammalian genomes. During this workshop we will discuss the advantages of using microRNAs as biomarkers, and present how microRNA biomarkers can be identified using the miRCURY LNA reagents for detection and functional analysis of microRNAs. In addition, we will explore the potential of microRNA biomarkers for patient stratification, prognosis and prediction of drug response. We will discuss new technologies enabling the detection of microRNAs in serum and plasma samples, and illustrate how you can use the Exiqon Tumor Bank as a resource in your drug development projects.

About the Workshop Leaders:

Dr Hazel Pinheiro, Exiqon A/S
The workshop will be chaired by Dr. Hazel Pinheiro, microRNA Application Specialist, Exiqon. Dr Hazel Pinheiro has many years of experience in providing technical support and experimental advice to microRNA researchers. She will be available to discuss your microRNA project during and after the workshop.

Dr Hannah Mamuszka, Exiqon Diagnostics
Hannah Mamuszka has many years of drug and diagnostic development focusing in cell and molecular based assays, both in the pharmaceutical industry and at the NCI. Her current focus is preclinical assay design and clinical diagnostic development for oncology.

About the Organisation:

Exiqon combines leading-edge scientific expertise in gene expression with our proprietary LNA™ technology. Our products, services and scientific staff enable life science researchers to make groundbreaking discoveries. Moreover, we are addressing the unmet need for a new approach to the diagnosis of cancer. We will push the frontiers of gene expression science with technologies that enable novel discoveries and drive development of targeted cancer diagnostic tools. http://www.exiqon.com/

Workshop agenda

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8:30

Registration & Coffee

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9:00

Introduction to Exiqon Pharmaceutical Sciences

  • Merged technology platform (LNA enabling products and services for microRNA analysis combined with a tumor bank of 150,000 tumors as a resource for discovery)
  • Extreme Drug Resistance (EDR) Assay
  • microRNA vs mRNA, why Exiqon believe microRNA is better for drug development purposes
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    9:30

    MicroRNA Research using LNA Technology

  • Benefits of Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA)
  • Background of LNA array platform
  • Robust profiling of microRNAs isolated from archival FFPE material
  • microRNA knockdown, and microRNA PCR detection using LNA technologies
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    10:00

    MicroRNA Opportunities in pre-clinical and clinical research

  • Profiling of stable microRNAs in live tumors (from the Exiqon tumor bank) with validated models of clinical efficacy prediction (EDR assay) to correlate profile to drug response, and give information about drug mechanism
  • Identify microRNA signature for classification of resistant / responsive tumors
  • Identify microRNA biomarkers that may predict drug response
  • Use microRNA biomarkers to select/deselect patients for inclusion in trials resulting in smaller, more cost-effective trials with increased response rate
  • microRNAs as prognostic biomarkers
  • Clinical trial monitoring: blood/tumor samples sent to Exiqon from clinical trials can be accessioned and processed for microRNA arrays or other molecular assays
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    10:30

    Morning Coffee

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    11:00

    Blood-based screening of microRNA biomarkers

  • microRNA detection in blood, plasma and serum
  • What this means for clinical trials and diagnostic development
  • Monitor the activity of the drug through blood-based screening for microRNA
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    11:30

    Tissue opportunities

  • Tumor bank details; size, scope, availability
  • EDR Assay: determine which tumor types will respond best to a drug
  • Immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, custom assay validations available through Exiqon’s CLIA- and CAP- certified laboratory
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    12:00

    Review and Questions

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    12:30

    Close of Workshop

    Crowne Plaza Hotel - St James

    Buckingham Gate 45/51
    London SW1E 6AF
    United Kingdom

    Crowne Plaza Hotel - St James

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