LEXINGTON, Mass — BioScale, Inc. a life science company that develops ultrasensitive protein analysis technology, presented findings of recently completed research studies on phospho-protein analysis of the in vitro and in vivo kinase expression in the MAP kinase pathway at the 22nd Biennial European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) Congress, held in Barcelona, Spain, July 7-10, 2012.

“We were honored to have our original scientific research accepted for presentation at this year’s EACR Congress. This data is representative of BioScale’s ability to enable startlingly fast advancements in biomarker and protein research focused in oncology,” said Martin Latterich, PhD, BioScale’s Chief Scientific Officer. “Our customers believe that the abilities to measure and monitor the activation states and molecular interactions of key signaling pathway components are crucial in the understanding and development of anti-cancer pharmaceuticals and therapeutics. And with the ability to use the same assay in vitro and in vivo – no matter the matrix — we provide the necessary tools to not only identify, but to measure the levels of target proteins and biomarkers in complex samples both ultrasensitively and reproducibly.”

The presentation entitled “Comparative Analysis of in vivo and in vitro Expression of Kinases in the MAPK Kinase Pathway” was presented by Lee Anne Beausang, Ph.D. Senior Assay Development Scientist. The studies reported here utilized non-optical, AMMP® (acoustic membrane microparticle) technology to assess and quantify the activation states of several implicated kinases: EGFR, p38, and AKT in their native state from multiple cancer cell lines. Phosphorylation states of kinases from multiple human tumor cell line lysates, with or without mitogenic stimulation, were compared with lysates prepared from xenografted tumors derived from the same cell lines.

The results indicated successful measurement of native phospho- and total kinase biomarkers in xenografted tumors and the cell lines from which they were derived with nearly identical levels – a novel result that we had not previously encountered in published literature. The relationship between total protein and cell numbers allows for an assessment of sensitivity based on cell numbers (<1000 cells/measurement). This is advantageous when analyzing tumor biopsy samples where cell numbers are generally low, and allows for more screening options with limited sample. The numbers of cells required for the determinations are consistent with those available from fine needle aspiration of in situ tumors, thus permitting the potential for “finger-printing” a specific tumor and evaluating multiple chemotherapeutic regimens against the tumor. These studies have also demonstrated the feasibility of quantifying biomarker analytes in the complex matrices of cell and tumor lysates with significant correlation between quantitated biomarker and the AMMP signal. The quantitation (mass/volume) of biomarker proteins using the AMMP assay format permits the elucidation of the phospho- to total kinase ratios observed in both tumor cell lines and xenografted tumors derived from them. These ratios appear to be characteristic of the individual cell lines, and will provide medicinal chemists additional criteria from which to define appropriate therapeutic targets for drug discovery. About BioScale, Inc. BioScale is a life science company that develops, manufactures and promotes a proprietary protein analysis technology to accelerate the discovery, development and production of biological and pharmaceutical products. BioScale’s innovative ViBE® platform powered by its AMMP® (Acoustic Membrane Microparticle) technology enables highly-sensitive detection and quantitation of proteins in complex samples used in pre-clinical and clinical research, bioprocess, patient point-of-care and personalized medicine applications. BioScale is headquartered in Lexington, MA. For more information, visit www.bioscale.com.