AroCell enters a collaboration with Tampere University Hospital

Today AroCell announces a collaboration with Tampere University Hospital (TAYS) to evaluate AroCell’s TK 210 ELISA for Thymidine Kinase 1 (TK1) as a prognostic biomarker in subjects with prostate cancer. The aim of the study is to determine the prognostic value of TK1 in newly diagnosed subjects with prostate cancer.

In the study TK1 protein levels will be assayed in serum samples collected from subjects with newly diagnosed prostate cancer and compared with the extent and speed of disease progression.

There is an acknowledged need for better prognostic tools in prostate cancer as in many men, the disease will take a benign course. There is a need to avoid over-treatment of these subjects while obtaining more accurate monitoring of those with active disease. This is particularly important with the advent of new and more effective therapies for prostate cancer.

The study will be executed in collaboration with the Prostate Research Center at Tampere University Hospital and coordinated by Professor Teemu Murtola of the Pharmacoepidemiology and Chemoprevention of Urological Cancer Research Group.

“We are excited to work together with Tampere University Hospital, one of the World’s leading centers for prostate cancer research” says Michael Brobjer, CEO of AroCell. “The AroCell TK 210 ELISA kit is a cost-efficient way to improve the monitoring of subjects with prostate cancer via a simple blood test, reducing costs and morbidity and improving patient welfare.”

For more information:
Michael Brobjer, CEO
Telephone: +46(0)18 50 30 20
E-mail: michael.brobjer@arocell.com

About Thymidine Kinase 1
Thymidine Kinase 1 (TK1) is a key enzyme in DNA precursor synthesis. It is upregulated during the late G1 phase and early S phase of the cell cycle and its presence in cells is an indicator of active cell proliferation. Increased levels of TK1 in the blood can indicate active cell proliferation as a consequence of abnormal cell turnover and cell disruption triggered by for example therapeutic agents.

About TK 210 ELISA
AroCell TK 210 ELISA is a quantitative immunoassay kit for the determination of Thymidine Kinase 1 (TK1) in human blood. The ELISA format is simple and robust, requires no special instrumentation to perform and can easily be incorporated in to standard laboratory processes. By utilizing monoclonal antibodies specific for the TK1 epitope TK 210, AroCell TK 210 ELISA brings improved sensitivity and specificity to the assay of this key biomarker. AroCell TK 210 ELISA provides new opportunities for studying cellular proliferation, disruption, and monitoring of therapy response and relapse in subjects with hematological and solid tumors.

About Tampere University Hospital
Tampere University Hospital (TAYS), Tampere, Finland, is a world leader in research into prostate cancer. Its mission is to leverage basic sciences, epidemiology, computational biology, and clinical practice to find answers enabling better management of prostate cancer.

About AroCell
AroCell AB (AROC) is a Swedish company that develops standardized modern blood tests to support the prognosis and follow up of cancer patients. AroCell’s new technology is based on patented methods to measure Thymidine Kinase 1 (TK1) protein concentrations in a blood sample. The TK 210 ELISA test provides valuable information mainly about the condition of cancer patients. This may help clinicians to optimize treatment strategies and estimate the risk of recurrence of tumor disease during the monitoring of the disease. AroCell (AROC) is listed at Nasdaq First North with Redeye AB as Certified Adviser: Certifiedadviser@redeye.se, +46 (0)8 121 576 90. For more information; www.arocell.com