Major Cancer Centre is using Dymension 2D Gel Analysis Software

July 16th 2008 Cambridge, UK: Syngene, a world-leading manufacturer of image analysis solutions, is delighted to announce that its revolutionary Dymension 2D image analysis software is being used by scientists at the world renowned, Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) in Washington DC to rapidly assess molecular mechanisms of novel pro-drugs on breast cancer cells.

Researchers in the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at GUMC are using Dymension, currently the fastest 2D protein gel analysis software on the market, to analyse images of Coomassie Blue stained proteins derived from breast cancer cell lines (MCF7 and MDA MB231) after treatment with an 8-Quinolinyl histone deacetylase inhibitor. From the analysis, GUMC scientists have isolated many proteins that are significantly up or down-regulated, which could provide information about the drug’s molecular targets and molecular mechanisms in cancer treatment.

Dr Amrita Cheema, Research Instructor, in the Department of Oncology, GUMC commented: “Many studies show that inhibition of histone deacetylase can lead to the histone-deacetylase-mediated transcriptional repression of tumor suppressor genes and we have used 2D gels to see the protein profile from breast cancer cells at different time points of treatment with a 8-Quinolinyl histone deacetylase inhibitor.”

“We chose to use Dymension for analyzing our 2D gels because of the software packages we tested, this is the easiest to use and also represents the best value for money as it is capable of better performance than the more expensive software we looked at. Using Dymension we have detected hundreds of interesting proteins, which we are now validating by Western blot and MS analysis,” added Dr Cheema.

Paula Maia, Vice President of Sales, Syngene US stated: "We are pleased to see our software being utilized by such a prestigious cancer center to accelerate their search for new breast cancer drug targets. The use of the software at GUMC shows it is an unrivalled, quick and simple method of analyzing complex 2D gels and is a great endorsement of Dymension’s capabilities in proteomics studies.”

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For Further Information Contact:
Jayne Arthur, Syngene, Beacon House, Nuffield Road, Cambridge, CB4 1TF, UK.
Tel: +44(0) 1223-727123 Fax +44 (0) 1223-727101
Email: jayne.arthur@syngene.com  Web: www.2dymension.com 

Amrita K Cheema, Department of Oncology, GD9, Preclinical Science Building, 3900 Reservoir Road NW Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057-1468, USA.
Tel: + 202-687-2756 Fax: +202 687-8860
Email: akc27@georgetown.edu  Web: www.georgetown.edu

Editor Contact:
Dr Sue Pearson, PO Box 170, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 3GD, UK.
Tel/Fax +44 (0) 1462-635327 Email: sue6.pearson@ntlworld.com

Note to Editors

About Syngene

Syngene is a world-leading supplier of integrated imaging solutions for analysis and documentation of gel-based information. Syngene’s systems are used by more than 10,000 research organisations and over 50,000 individual scientists world-wide and include many of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies and major research institutes.

Syngene, founded in 1997 is a division of the Cambridge based Synoptics Group. The Group’s other divisions, Syncroscopy and Synbiosis, specialise in digital imaging solutions for microscopy and microbial applications respectively. Synoptics currently employs 40 people in its UK and subsidiary operation in Frederick, USA.

About Georgetown University Medical Center

Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through partnership with MedStar Health). Its mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing and Health Studies, both nationally ranked, as well as the world-renowned Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization (BGRO), home to 60 percent of the university’s sponsored research funding.