454 Sequencing and NimbleGen Systems, Inc. Capture Show Promise for Genetic Characterization of Leukemia

BRANFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This week at the 51st American Society for Hematology Annual Meeting, a team of researchers from the MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory presented results from a series of groundbreaking studies which explore alternative, high-throughput 454 Sequencing methods for distinguishing and characterizing the many forms of leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders. Using targeted resequencing techniques from Roche Applied Science (Pink Sheets:RHHBY) (SWX:RO) (SWX:ROG), including NimbleGen Sequence Capture arrays and 454 Life Science’s GS FLX System, the researchers were able to successfully detect all types of molecular mutations identified by conventional methods and, in addition, identify novel mutations in leukemia samples. Importantly, the researchers were able to accurately characterize a range of genetic variation types, such as point mutations, insertions and deletions as well as chromosomal rearrangements, in a single sequencing run while current methods required a combination of different labor-intensive techniques including FISH and standard Sanger sequencing. The results have critical implications on research to develop future diagnostics assays and treatments for this devastating disease.