Roche LightCycler 1536 to be used in new cancer research

Roche is to supply its LightCycler 1536 Instrument to Ghent University in order to support potentially groundbreaking new research into cancer.

The unit, which is based on the LightCycler 480 Platform architecture, will be used by the Belgian university to conduct a qPCR-based transcriptome-wide profiling study, which Roche described as a “tremendous undertaking and novel approach”.

Other studies will include multigene expression signature profiling on cancer samples, DNA methylation analysis and digital PCR for sensitive detection of mutant cells.

The Roche device utilises two excitation filters with two detection filters, providing specific optical readouts and helping to reduce the complexity of experimental layouts in high-throughput scenarios.

Manfred Baier, head of Roche Applied Science, said: “We are glad that our system will be an essential part of the cutting edge cancer research at Ghent University.”

Last week, Roche published its financial report for the first quarter of 2010, during which the company’s diagnostics division was able to outpace the growth rate of the overall market.