Gene Expression Analysis

Labcorp now offers ddPCR technology to allow nucleic acid quantification with ultrasensitivity and high precision using Bio-Rad’s QX200 System. ddPCR enables absolute quantification of molecular targets that are undetectable with traditional techniques.

A recent addition to Labcorp’s service portfolio, NanoString’s nCounter® Analysis System and the GeoMx® Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP) can be used to inform how a drug modulates gene expression and the signaling pathways that regulate tumor growth.

The NanoString nCounter® allows for analysis of up to 800 RNA, DNA or protein targets simultaneously with high sensitivity and precision. The system utilizes molecular "barcodes" and single molecule imaging to quantitate hundreds of unique transcripts in a single sample.

Other key advantages of using the NanoString nCounter® include:

• A number of “off-the-shelf panels” for oncology (human and mouse) available, customizable to include up to 55 additional unique targets
• Optimized for challenging sample types (FFPE, tissue, lysates and biofluids)
• Only low amounts of precious sample material required
• Accurate and faster than qPCR (no amplification requirements) and simpler than next generation sequencing

While NanoString nCounter® provides great quantitative data on gene or protein expression levels from tumor samples, spatial context is key to gaining further insights into tissue biology. NanoString GeoMx® DSP is the spatial biology solution and it can be used to gain a deeper understanding of the tumor and the complex interactions within the tumor microenvironment.

The NanoString GeoMx® DSP technology builds upon the highly robust NanoString nCounter® digital barcode technology, providing morphological context and high-plex protein or gene expression profiling from just one prepared slide sample. The technology uses software that offers tremendous flexibility when selecting a region-of-interest strategy (geometric, segmentation, cell-type specific, contour, gridded) to visualize spatial architecture and analyze multiple biomarkers of a tissue sample. The data analysis software in GeoMx® DSP supports easy visualization and interpretation of data. High-resolution images can be displayed alongside quantitative profiling data, allowing interaction with either dataset in real time.

Labcorp is the only preclinical CRO, globally, to offer NanoString’s GeoMx® DSP technology.

In addition to being utilized as a standalone in vitro service for genetic expression screening using cell-based models, NanoString may also be used in an ex vivo setting to analyze the drug mechanism of action in in vivo animal models, thereby offering the ability to screen multiple therapeutics to identify promising lead compounds.

当社では、96 ウェルプレートの 4 色の読取りが可能なリアルタイム PCR システム StepOnePlus™ を導入しており、SNP ジェノタイピング、遺伝子発現解析、microRNA 発現、転座解析、遺伝子検出などのアッセイに対応しています。培養細胞、新鮮組織、凍結組織で特異遺伝子が発現しているかどうかの見極めは、当社の PCR スペシャリストにお任せください。各種細胞株、マウス種、組織、腫瘍の遺伝子発現測定であっても、さまざまな治療における異なる遺伝子の発現モニタリングであっても、お客様が最適な研究をデザインできるようお手伝いいたします。

遺伝子発現プロファイリングでは、数千個の遺伝子の活動（発現）を一括測定し、細胞機能の全体図を作成します。RNA は次世代シーケンシングによって配列および定量化され、特異遺伝子の数千もの既知の RNA 配列に合わせて並べられます。こうしたプロファイルによって、たとえば、活発に分裂している細胞や、細胞の特定の治療に対する反応、各種細胞株、マウス種、組織、腫瘍で差次的に発現する遺伝子などが分かります。 Labcorp collaborates with a partner laboratory that specializes in sequencing the RNA.シーケンシング情報を入手した後、ソフトウェアを使って定量化、整列、データ分析を行っています。当社では、単一遺伝子、関連遺伝子のセット、経路および プロセスに特異的な遺伝子のグループ、ゲノム全体の発現をサンプル間で互いに比較し、その結果を簡単なグラフと図で表すことができます。