Researchers Now Able to Detect a Single Cancer Cell Through In Vivo Imaging-

HOPKINTON, Mass., April 15 — Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALP – News) today introduced Bioware® Ultra cell lines, a range of ultra bright light producing tumor cell lines created specifically for in vivo imaging applications. Bioware Ultra cell lines are 10 to 100 times brighter than cell lines created using traditional methods, which allows researchers, for the first time ever, to detect a single cancer cell in an animal via non-invasive in vivo imaging.

Visualizing and tracking tumor progression in vivo is critical to better understanding how therapeutic treatments impact disease. In vivo imaging provides researchers with the ability to recognize tumor growth and behaviors at the cellular level within living animals. By tagging a tumor with the gene for luciferase, the same gene that allows a firefly to glow, the tumor can produce light that can be monitored using Caliper’s highly sensitive IVIS imaging systems. As the disease progresses and reacts to specific compounds, researchers can measure tumor growth and evaluate the efficacy of compounds in real time. This ability to track disease progression in vivo offers a more conclusive understanding of how potential drugs will react in and impact humans.

Increasing the brightness of tumor producing cell lines significantly improves researchers’ ability to monitor early tumor behavior and detect micrometastases sooner. Caliper’s Bioware Ultra light producing cell lines incorporate the enhanced luc2 gene from Promega. The luc2 gene, an optimized version of luciferase for expression in mammalian cells, creates intensified visible light allowing more sensitive non-invasive detection of cells in vivo. Bioware Ultra cell lines offer the most sensitive way to non-invasively examine tumor cell growth in vivo, far exceeding the capabilities of previously available cell lines.

“The ability to detect and monitor a single cancerous cell in an animal model dramatically improves the ability to understand disease evolution from early stages and reaction to treatment options,” said Mark Roskey, vice president, reagents and applied biology, Caliper Life Sciences. “Previously, oncology researchers needed to tag nearly 500 cells before a sufficient signal could be monitored using optical imaging. Bioware Ultra cell lines are the only line of cells available that offers the research community the level of sensitivity to detect a single cell further demonstrating Caliper’s commitment to increasing the capabilities of pre-clinical, non-invasive in vivo imaging.”

Caliper Life Sciences today launched seven Bioware Ultra cell lines covering a range of cancer models, including breast, colorectal, lung and prostate as well as lymphoma. Available immediately, the Bioware Ultra cell lines express on average 1000 photons/sec/cell. This intense brightness facilitates research efforts to measure tumor growth before tumors are palpable, study tumors from very early stages when a small number of cells is present and to detect micrometastatic events. Bioware Ultra cell lines are optimal for studying variety of xenograft models including orthotopic models in mice and are confirmed to be pathogen free. For additional information or to order Bioware Ultra cell lines, please visit: www.caliperls.com.

About Caliper Life Sciences

Caliper Life Sciences is a premier provider of cutting-edge technologies enabling researchers in the life sciences industry to create life-saving and enhancing medicines and diagnostic tests more quickly and efficiently. Caliper is aggressively innovating new technology to bridge the gap between in vitro assays and in vivo results and then translating those results into cures for human disease. Caliper’s portfolio of offerings includes state-of-the-art microfluidics, lab automation & liquid handling, optical imaging technologies, and discovery & development outsourcing solutions.