Healthcare firm Abbott will provide its PathVysion HER-2 DNA FISH probe kits for use in Angle's breast cancer liquid biopsy study.

Angle will use the kit in the study for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs).

The FISH analysis involves the investigation of the cancer cells used with solid tissue biopsy to help select treatment. It will serve as one of the exploratory end-points for Angle’s FDA study in metastatic breast cancer. 

According to Angle, the objective of the end point is to show that CTCs can be harvested from the blood of metastatic breast cancer patients using the Parsortix system and subjected to FISH analysis to determine their HER-2 status (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2). 

PathVysion HER-2 DNA FISH probe kit will allow physicians to select better candidates for personalised therapy.

PathVysion holds capacity to determine HER-2 gene status, helping to identify patients with HER-2 positive.

Herceptin will enable to control the growth of cancer cells, which include high amounts of HER-2

PathVysion, which was launched in 1998, is claimed to be the first FDA-approved gene-based test to determine HER-2 status.  

Angle said a positive PathVysion HER-2 result in Parsortix harvested CTCs would demonstrate feasibility of assessinguse of the assay in a breast cancer liquid biopsy in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Abbott oncology and companion diagnostics franchise director Dr Kathryn B Becker said: "Abbott is pleased to collaborate with Angle in this important evaluation of PathVysion in liquid biopsy specimens.

Angle founder and CEO Andrew Newland said: "This is another important collaboration for Angle with a leader in downstream analysis.  Abbott's PathVysion is the market leader for FISH evaluation of HER-2 in breast cancer.”