PentaBase A/S, Denmark, July 29th, 2022 – PentaBase is proud to announce another new and pending patent, MicroSight® MSI 1-step HRM Analysis is a qPCR and high-resolution melt (HRM)-based assay, evaluating microsatellite length via PCR product melting profiles, for detection of microsatellite instability (MSI) without the need for capillary electrophoresis. The assay is part of PentaBase’s extensive cancer screening tools portfolio. MicroSight® MSI 1-step HRM Analysis incorporates our proprietary technology, intercalating nucleic acids (INA™), in five qPCR simplexes, thereby providing increased specificity and sensitivity of the primers and probes. This ensures higher reliability and overall quality assurance.
The standard procedure for MSI testing involves the amplification of purified tumor DNA by PCR, after which the lengths of the amplified DNA fragments are compared to non-tumor DNA fragments by capillary electrophoresis. This procedure is time-consuming, imposes a risk of cross-contamination between samples, and the evaluation of the results requires subjective analysis by experienced professionals. However, with the new patent application by PentaBase, these problems are avoided.
About the method
Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a genomic alteration in the length of microsatellites provoked by a deficient DNA mismatch repair system. MSI is known to occur in several types of cancer, e.g., colorectal cancer (CRC), and identification of MSI in tumors is important as a predictive factor of response to different therapies, to immune checkpoint inhibitors. As the treatment of various cancer patients is based on their MSI status, the need for MSI analysis of these patients has significantly increased. The MicroSight® MSI 1-step HRM Analysis assay analyzes five mononucleotide microsatellite sequences: BAT25, BAT26, NR22, NR24, and MONO27, by qPCR and HRM. The assay evaluates the microsatellite length of patient tumor DNA to patient non-tumor DNA or a universal reference. After the qPCR and HRM, a semi-automatic analysis will be made by the instrument software giving objective results in less than 2 hours. The assay has gone through clinical validation and is validated for CRC and endometrial cancer patient samples.
About PentaBase A/S
PentaBase is a Danish, science-driven company built on unique DNA technologies, creating innovative workflows and PCR analyses. We are enabling personalized treatment using sensitive, specific, and robust monitoring of genetic biomarkers.